Diamond Jubilee
In the year 2012, HRH Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration of a monarch’s 60th year of reign. Queen Elizabeth’s reign began following her father’s death on February 6, 1952 (although her coronation wasn’t until over a year later on June June 2, 1953). The only other British monarch to reign at least 60 years was Queen Victoria, who reigned for a total of 63 years, and celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897.During the course of the year, the Queen will be the subject of many celebrations across her kingdom, which spans 16 sovereign states. In the UK, most of the celebration will commence during the month of June, which correlates with her coronation date. Coincidentally, the 2012 Summer Olympics will also be held in the UK that summer.Typically, there is a bank holiday in late May each year. In 2012, this holiday will be moved to June 4th, and there will be a second holiday the following day, which is a Jubilee holiday. Although this holiday will be celebrated in Scotland, only schools in Wales and England are scheduled to be closed that day (Tuesday).During the previous weekend (June 2nd and 3rd) the Queen is scheduled to attend theEpsom Derbyon Saturday andThe Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageanton Sunday.The Big Jubilee Lunchwill also be held on Sunday. This is a nation wide celebration where subjects of the Queen are invited to share lunch with neighbors, friends, and family in her honor. Also on this day is The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant where boats from around the world will gather, led by The Royal Barge, of which The Queen will be traveling on.On June 4th, there will be a BBC concert at Buckingham Palace. A list of performers is not yet available, but this event will be televised. Also, tickets will be made available to the general public through a ballot system. This same day, 2012Beaconswill be lit throughout the United Kingdom in the Queen’s honor.Tuesday June 5th, which is the Jubilee bank holiday, the Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession will commence. This Procession will be headed by The Queen and the service will be performed at St. Paul’s Cathedral.Many other nations within the Commonweath Realms will also be performing independent celebrations for the Queen. For more information on Jubilee events visit:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_197517
