This week, Britain will mark the record 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s reign with four days of celebrations, ranging from military parades and a church service to street parties and a pop concert outside Buckingham Palace. The celebrations will take place from June 2 to 5. Here is the program of festivities.
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Thursday June 2: Trooping the Colour
More than 1,500 soldiers and musicians of the British army will parade during the “Trooping the Colour” ceremony which officially marks the birthday of the Queen, born in April. This military parade, with musicians and horses, is a tradition that goes back more than two centuries. The highlight of the event is the appearance of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, to greet the crowd and admire the flypast.
Only members of the royal family who make official public engagements on behalf of the Queen will be present on the balcony, so this excludes Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, exiled in California, as well as Prince Andrew, son of the Queen, who signed a financial agreement to end accusations of sexual assault.
On Thursday night, more than 2,800 signal lights will be lit at the palace and across the United Kingdom, including atop the country’s four highest peaks, as well as in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and British Overseas Territories. Lights will be lit in 54 Commonwealth capitals on five continents, from Tonga and Samoa in the South Pacific to Belize in the Caribbean. Nine bridges spanning the Thames in London will be illuminated, as will the iconic BT Tower in the capital, as well as several cathedrals in England.
Friday, June 3: Mass of Thanksgiving
A thanksgiving mass for the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth II’s reign will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and on this occasion the Great Paul bell will be rung, which happens very rarely.
This bell dating from 1882 is the largest church bell in the country. Its mechanism broke in the 1970s but was repaired last year. It has only rung eight times since then. All the royal family should be present around the queen.
Saturday June 4th: the prestigious Epsom Derby and concert
A horse racing fan, Elizabeth II is expected to attend the 243rd edition of the prestigious Epsom Derby.
In the evening, some 22,000 people – including 5,000 “key workers” during the pandemic – are expected to attend a big party at Buckingham Palace, the BBC Platinum Party. Among the headliners are the rockers of Queen, but also Adam Lambert, the Motown legend Diana Ross and the unavoidable pop star Elton John. Alicia Keys, Nile Rodgers and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will also perform in this two-and-a-half-hour concert.
Sunday, June 5: a big festive parade
Millions of people will participate in festive outdoor meals throughout the country, with more than 70,000 people having registered to host these “great jubilee lunches,” according to the government.
More than 600 lunches are also planned in Commonwealth countries and the rest of the world, from Canada to Brazil, from New Zealand to Japan and from South Africa to Switzerland.
The final day of celebrations will culminate in a festive parade through central London to Buckingham Palace. Musicians, artists, dancers, comedians: about 10,000 people will participate in a great show exploring the transformation of society since the accession of the Queen to the throne in 1952. It will end with the performance of the national anthem, “God Save the Queen”, outside the palace, led by the British pop star Ed Sheeran.
