Official Diamond Jubilee Programme

 

The Central Weekend to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee takes place from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June 2012, with celebratory activities throughout the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.

The Jubilee Weekend features an extra Bank Holiday for the Diamond Jubilee, with the late May Bank Holiday moved one week later, thereby making a 4-day long weekend. The government announced the extra Bank Holiday for the Diamond Jubilee on 5 January 2010.

Buckingham Palace is responsible for the coordination of the central weekend, and the outline of the main programme is as follows.

 

The Big Jubilee Lunch - Sunday 3rd June

The fourth annual Big Lunch will fall on the same weekend as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. So anyone who would like to celebrate and commemorate the Queen’s 60 year reign can do so by holding a Big Jubilee Lunch! As announced by Buckingham Palace The Big Jubilee Lunch will be a part of the main programme of events over the central weekend of Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June 2012.

A Big Jubilee Lunch, can be anything from a few neighbours getting together in the garden or on the street, to a full blown party with food, music and decoration that quite literally stops the traffic. 

It’s not too early to start planning! Simply request your free Big Jubilee Lunch Pack here. The pack contains a step-by-step guide to help you get your event off the ground, plus invitations, posters,'crowd cooking' recipe ideas, stickers and much more.

Get your pack here

 

The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant - Sunday 3rd June

This event will take place on the River Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will lead the flotilla by travelling in the Royal Barge. This event is being organised by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation to celebrate Her Majesty’s sixty-year reign, and will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river. To find out more visit their website.

 

 

BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace - Monday 4th June

Buckingham Palace will host a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert, with tickets being available to UK residents by public ballot. The musical programme for the concert is still being planned and is expected to feature British and Commonwealth musicians. Details on how to apply for the concert, organised by the BBC, will be available in due course from The British Monarchy website. .

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons - Monday 4th June

A network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. As in 2002, The Queen will light the National Beacon, following the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. The beacons project is being organised by Diamond Jubilee Beacons Ltd.

Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession - Tueday 5th June

There will be a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a formal carriage Procession by The Queen, and other members of the Royal Family, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. For more information please visit The British Monarchy website.