How to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee weekend

God Save The Queen

Immense fervour surrounds the upcoming Diamond Jubilee. The only other monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) was Queen Victoria in 1897. June 2-5 are when celebrations really kick off. Monday 4 June is the late May bank holiday this year so, with time off to do this, here are some ways you can wave the flag for Elizabeth II -- no matter what you feel about the Royal Family.

Queen Elizabeth

Saturday 2 June

The Queen will be at the fabulous Epson Derby. The races are open to those who hold tickets and a perfect way for lovers of horse racing to partake.

Sunday 3 June

At high tide in the afternoon (let’s hope the weather improves by then!), up to one thousand boats will gather along the River Thames in preperation for Her Majesty to lead the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

If you’re south of the river in Battersea Park, tickets are now available for the Diamond Jubilee Festival which will be an all around festival of design, music, art, film, fashion and food from the past 60 years. A line-up of top DJs, headlined by Norman Jay and the Good Times Sound System, will be appearing as well as other acts including The Noisettes and Urban Soul Orchestra. The real showstopper will, however, be a portrait of Queen Elizabeth made of 3,120 cakes on display.

Monday 4 June

The Bank Holiday will end with a bang in the form of the Diamond Jubilee concert organized by the BBC at Buckingham Palace itself. Tickets for this event will be available to U.K. residents by public ballot and the line-up is still being finalised, but it’s sure to be a memorable event. The 10,000 lucky guests will dine on a special picnic designed by Britain’s great chef, Heston Blumenthal. With strawberries straight from Sandringham, the finest Scottish salmon and Moet champagne, this is a feast to remember if you’re lucky enough to get tickets. Whether you’ll be eating alongside the Queen, however, remains to be seen.

Tuesday 5 June

The Queen and other members of the Royal Family will attend a national Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. A Prayer, written at The Queen’s direction by the Chapter of St. Paul’s Cathedral in honour of the Diamond Jubilee, will be read at the service.

Around the country, residential streets are expected to fill with red, white and blue bunting for community parties galore as millions of us the country over celebrate both Queen Elizabeth II and that delicious extra day off of work.

http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/