Next month, the Queen celebrates 60 years as Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth. To mark the Diamond Jubilee, a number of show-stopping events will take place in London and members of the Royal Family will be visiting Commonwealth countries too. Over the long weekend (Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June) celebrate this momentous occasion and see what’s happening in the Commonwealth.
London
London is the place to be for the Diamond Jubilee, as there is so much going on. Kick off your celebrations on Sunday, 3 June and get all your neighbours and friends over for a traditional street party. Walk along the River Thames and see up to 1,000 boats in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. See if you can spot the Royal Barge – the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be on it. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to get a ticket, you can watch the Diamond Jubilee Concert on TV on Monday 4 June. Also, on Monday, the Queen will light the National Beacon along with 2,012 beacons which will be lit by communities all over the UK and the Commonwealth. The events will culminate on Tuesday with a service at St Paul’s Cathedral, a procession with all three military services and an appearance by the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF flypast and a Feu de Joie, a rifle salute by the Queen’s Guard.
Scotland
To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Perth was awarded city status and will now be Scotland’s seventh city, along with Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling. Perth based its bid on its long history as a city before the status was removed in 1975 during a local government shake up. On Monday 4 June beacons will be lit on Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Search and compare: cheap flights to Scotland
Wales
Street parties, parades and concerts, fairs, exhibitions and concerts are being staged in the principality to mark the Jubilee. The small town of St Asaph was awarded city status, along with Chelmsford, Essex and Perth. One of the main Diamond Jubilee projects is the lighting of beacons on Monday 4 June with 100 beacons already registered in Wales. Search and compare: cheap flights to Wales
Jersey, Channel Islands
The festivities start on Sunday 3 June at 3pm when some of the Island’s parishes will be holding street parties. Start Monday early for a day packed full of activities. At 10:30am a Service of Thanksgiving led by the Dean of Jersey will be held at the Town Church. Then at 2:30-4pm gaze upon classic and vintage vehicles at the People’s Park. Alternatively, enjoy the horse racing at Les Landes Racecourse from 2:30 to 5:45pm. Grab a bite to eat at the Jubilee Food Fair at Les Jardins de la Mer at 4:30-11pm. The Jubilee Concert will then take place at Fort Regent at 7:30-9:45pm. Appreciate the variety of music from military bands to a choir of 500 singers and popular artists to the Jersey Pipe Band. After the Jersey Militia fire a 21-gun salute, cast your eyes on the island’s Jubilee Beacon and a spectacular firework display; all can be seen from Elizabeth Castle from 10pm. Search and compare: cheap flights to Jersey
Ryde, Isle of Wight
A “Cool Britannia” parade will take place on Ryde Beach at 2pm on 2 June. There’s fun for all the family in Appley Park, where a large marquee will be erected for evening entertainment and an afternoon of activities on Sunday 3 June. The evening events include a vintage cocktail party on Saturday 2 June, a carnival party on Sunday 3 June and on Monday 4 June there will be a firework display, as well as the lighting of the Jubilee Beacon from 9:30-11pm. Sunday 3 June will see visitors being able to enjoy a 50’s Lambretta Special edition “Ride Out” showcasing scooters, a vintage tea party from 2-4pm, magicians, dance and performance workshops, funfair rides and much more. Take part in 1950s football, sandcastle competitions and sack races or just go for a dip in the water at Ryde beach. Hovertravel are also doing a flyby, where visitors can meet the captain and dress the hovercraft with flags. Search and compare: cheap flights to Isle of Wight
Gibraltar
As the Diamond Jubilee is celebrated, it will have been 58 years since the Queen and Prince Philip arrived in Gibraltar as part of Her Majesty’s Coronation Tour in May 1954, and Gibraltar wants to celebrate. The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Gibraltar from 11-13 June and Gibraltar’s Tourist Board is planning many celebratory events. They are proposing to light beacons in the Commonwealth-wide plan, arrange charity fund raising events and organise a sporting competition to create a new Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Cup for the winning sport. Search and compare: cheap flights to Gibraltar
Cyprus
The Western Sovereign Base Area is holding a Party in the Park in Happy Valley, Episkopi, Limassol on Friday 1 June. Or you could head to DT’s Bar, Tombs of the Kings Road, Paphos on Sunday 3 June at 1pm. Tickets are open to everyone and cost €20. Included in the price is a welcome Jubilee cocktail, street party buffet lunch, traditional English sing-a-long with Bob Clarkson and dancing. The Thames Pageant will also be screened live on a big screen. Search and compare: cheap flights to Cyprus
Canada
In Canada, a new commemorative medal named the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal has been created. The medal is a way for Canada to honour the Queen’s service to the country as well as serving to honour a significant contribution or achievement by Canadians. During 2012, 60,000 Canadians will be recognised and awarded the medal. Canada will also take part by lighting beacons as part of the Commonwealth celebrations. The Royal British Columbia Museum will mount, from 1 June to 3 September, an exhibition of Cecil Beaton photographs of Elizabeth II. Search and compare: cheap flights to Canada
Australia
On Monday, 4 June Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister, will light a beacon on top of Parliament House in Canberra. Parks Place in the Parliamentary zone will be renamed Queen Elizabeth Terrace which will complement the names of adjacent streets Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George Terraces. If you’re after a collector’s item purchase a Jubilee stamp issued by Australia Post; the Jubilee coin issued by the Royal Australian Mint sold out in record time. Towards the end of 2012, Australia will welcome the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall for a visit. Search and compare: cheap flights to Australia
New Zealand
Monday, 4 June will see New Zealanders celebrate the Queen’s birthday and the Queen’s Honours list is released. This year, the celebrations will be even bigger. New Zealand Post created a special commemorative stamp honouring the milestone. New Zealand will pay tribute by lighting beacons along with other Commonwealth countries. In addition, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit New Zealand in November on their Commonwealth tour as representatives of the Queen. Search and compare: cheap flights to New Zealand
(Images: Featured image – kokalola; London – kathmandu; Scotland – http2007; Wales – katclay; Jersey, Channel Islands – marilynjane; Isle of Wight – Shardalow; Gibraltar – davidstanleytravel; Cyprus – perepel; Canada – tuchodi; Australia – nsgbrown; New Zealand – www.nzhistory.net.nz)
