Sunday spectacle! Plans for next year’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant are revealed – with celebrations including a 5,000-strong marching band, giant puppet dragon and a play written just for the Queen by Michael Morpurgo
- Plans for the launch of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant – to be held on June 5th 2022 – were revealed at the Victoria And Albert Museum in London today
- The event has a budget of between £10 and £15 million and will involve participants from across the UK and parts of the Commonwealth
- Britons will enjoy a four-day bank holiday to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as the nation marks her 70 years on the throne
- The Sunday pageant will comprise three acts, with the first seeing both serving troops and veterans march along The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace
The English capital is set to play host to marching bands, a giant dragon puppet and circus acts as part of spectacular pageant to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year, it was revealed today.
Central London will come to life with colour, street theatre and dance in honour of the monarch’s long reign in what has been described as ‘something of a reopening ceremony for the United Kingdom’.
On February 6 2022, the Queen will have reigned as monarch for 70 years, the first time a British sovereign will have reached such a landmark – with a four-day bank holiday in the pipeline for Britons to mark the occasion in June.
Details of the pageant, to be held on Sunday June 5th next year, were revealed at the official launch in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum on Tuesday.
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Plans for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant were revealed at the V&A Museum in London today with Pageant Master Adrian Evans detailing the highlights of next year’s celebration to be held on Sunday June 5th
The Sunday pageant will comprise three acts, with the first seeing both serving troops and veterans march along The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace (Pictured: The Queen in Scotland this week visiting key workers and volunteers at Holyrood House )
Organisers, including Pageant Master Adrian Evans said the event, with a budget of between £10 and £15 million and involving participants from across the UK and parts of the Commonwealth, is expected to be one of the biggest celebratory events held on home soil for decades.
Throughout the year, the Queen and members of the royal family will travel around the country attending a range of events to mark the milestone, culminating with the Platinum Jubilee Weekend.
Buckingham Palace said 2022’s extended break will run from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5 after the May bank holiday – which would have been on Monday, May 30 – was pushed back.
The four-day weekend will begin on the Thursday with Trooping the Colour, which will be staged in full for the first time since the pandemic, and a service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on the Saturday.
Plans for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations have been released for the first time today as the Queen celebrates her 69th year on the British throne. Pictured, crowds outside Buckingham Palace
Sunday’s pageant will comprise of three acts, with the first seeing both serving troops and veterans take part in a march along The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.
The second act, entitled Celebration, will feature a puppet dragon larger than a double-decker bus with a wingspan the width of The Mall.
Others taking part will include a trapeze artist suspended underneath a huge balloon printed with an image of the Queen, as well as acrobats and other performers.
The specially-written fairy story There Once Is A Queen by renowned author Sir Michael Morpurgo will be brought to life through artists on the day.
On the Thursday of next year’s events, Trooping the Colour (pictured) is expected to be staged in full for the first time since the pandemic
The Queen is pictured during another celebration holding bouquets given to her by Britons
The pageant will have a nod to every decade of the Queen’s reign, and feature horses and corgis to reflect her passions.
Nicholas Coleridge, co-chairman of the pageant, said: ‘The Platinum Jubilee weekend is an opportunity for the country to emerge re-energised and renewed, expressing optimism and confidence.
‘It will be something of a reopening ceremony for the United Kingdom, following a period of uncertainty and hardship, a catalysing moment of unity and fun.
The Queen is pictured during a previous celebration taking flowers from eager crowds
‘Through the fusion of ceremonial and pageantry with razzmatazz and festival, we intend to create a spectacle that is at once energising and memorable and a fitting tribute to the Queen.’
Details of the pageant’s third act, the finale, are being kept secret for now.
The pageant will be privately funded, organisers said, through a mix of corporate partners, business and individuals.
The bank holiday celebration will be marked with national events including a live concert featuring some of the world’s biggest stars to a service of thanksgiving – and a day at the races.
Individual members of the royal family have yet to be named in the plans but it is likely the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other members of the monarchy will attend various events.
A live concert will be staged at Buckingham Palace – Platinum Party at the Palace – during the Saturday of the long weekend. Performers have yet to be named but it is billed as bringing together some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars to celebrate the most significant and joyous moments from the Queen’s seven-decade reign.
Other highlights include a day at the races for the Queen – a keen horse breeder – and her family who will fill the royal box for the Derby, held at Epsom Downs, before the concert.
The Queen’s four-day Platinum Jubilee celebration: Buckingham Palace reveals how Her Majesty’s 70-year reign will be remembered
Thursday June 2, 2022
The Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour): More than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will come together in the traditional Parade to mark The Queen’s official birthday, usually held on the second Saturday in June.
Beginning at Buckingham Palace, the Parade will move down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, joined by Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages. The Parade will close with the traditional RAF fly-past, watched by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Platinum Jubilee Beacons: The United Kingdom’s long tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, Weddings and Coronations with the lighting of beacons will be continued to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories.
For the first time, beacons will also be lit in each of the capital cities of the Commonwealth countries to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Friday June 3, 2022
Service of Thanksgiving: A Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral. Further events will be announced in due course.
Saturday June 4, 2022
The Derby at Epsom Downs: Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by Members of the Royal Family, will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs.
Platinum Party at the Palace: The BBC will stage and broadcast a special live concert from Buckingham Palace that will bring together some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars to celebrate the most significant and joyous moments from The Queen’s seven decade reign. Members of the public will be invited to apply to attend this special event and details of the ballot for UK residents to secure audience tickets will be released in due course.
Sunday June 5, 2022
The Big Jubilee Lunch: Every year since the idea began in 2009 The Big Lunch has encouraged communities to celebrate their connections and get to know each other a little bit better, coming together in a spirit of fun and friendship. In 2022 The Big Lunch will bring the Jubilee celebrations into the heart of every community.
People are invited to share friendship, food and fun with neighbours as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. A Big Jubilee Lunch can be big or small – street party or picnic, tea and cake or a garden barbeque. The Big Lunch provides tips and ideas for hosting an event.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant: A pageant featuring over 5,000 people from across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth will take place against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace and the surrounding streets. It will combine street arts, theatre, music, circus, carnival and costume and celebrate the service of Her Majesty’s reign, as well as honouring the collective service of people and communities across the country.
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