Kicking off a long summer of celebrations in
London, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee culminates this weekend with a holiday celebrated all over the UK. Here in the states you may not know what a diamond jubilee is; it celebrates a monarch’s 60th year in service to the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is only the second monarch to reach the Diamond Jubilee, following Queen Victoria whose reign ended in1901.
As a pseudo-predecessor to the London Olympics, the Diamond Jubilee is a weekend of festivals and events to celebrate the monarchy. Starting Saturday, follow the every move of Elizabeth as she commemorates her best moments across the pond.
Saturday, June 2
Celebrate the
Epsom Derby- one of England’s Triple Crown races and one of England’s premier sporting events. The Queen will be there talking to the jockeys and horse trainers and the derby attracts over 100,000 spectators each June. If you don’t want to head out to the ‘burbs, check out the race at
Sports Café in the city, the tele is sure to show a few shots of her majesty.
Sunday, June 3
Sunday starts off with a weekend staple- a Sunday Lunch. The Big Jubilee Lunch recommends dining with friends and family, sharing good foods and good memories. For a great roast in true British fashion, we recommend lunching at
Porter’s English Restaurant.
Once you’ve safely established your food coma, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant kicks-off. Think of it as a boat parade with the Royal Barge as the centerpiece- catch some great snapshots of the Queen along with the Duke of Edinburgh from the
Tower Bridge.
Monday, June 4
Camp out at
Buckingham Palace early to beat the crowds as you catch some of Britain’s finest performers at the Jubilee Concert. UK residents can get tickets by a public ballot; if you aren’t so lucky as to have the stub in your hand, lie out in the Gardens of
Green Park to hear the concert from a distance. Following the concert, the Queen will light a Jubilee Beacon in conjunction with thousands of communities across the British Isles.
Tuesday, June 5
The Diamond Jubilee Central Weekend culminates with a day of parties. Pay your dues alongside the Queen at
St. Paul’s Cathedral in the morning, and then line the mall to watch the carriage procession to the Palace along with a balcony view.
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Posted by jhartmann13 (JJ Hartmann)