TO CELEBRATE THE QUEEN’S 70 YEARS ON THE THRONE THE PLATINUM JUBILEE NEW DETAILS OF THE PAGEANT THAT WILL HONOUR HER RECORD-BREAKING REIGN
Marching bands, circus acts and a giant dragon puppet bigger than a doubledecker bus and with wings that span the width of The Mall will lead a dazzling pageant to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year.
The story of Her Majesty’s long and eventful reign will be played out on the streets of central London as a fairy story by War Horse author Sir Michael Morpurgo, There Once is a Queen, is brought to life during the day.
The event, to feature performers from across the UK and Commonwealth, is to be one of the biggest celebrations the nation has seen for decades.
With a budget of £10-£15m, the privately funded pageant will be the highlight of a four-day weekend to mark Her Majesty’s 70th anniversary as monarch.
On 6 February 2022 the Queen will become the first British sovereign to reach the magnificent milestone. The national celebrations are planned to kick off on 2 June, with the Queen – who will by then be 96 – and her family attending Trooping the Colour. A service of thanksgiving will follow at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday 4 June, followed by a trip to the Epsom Derby.
A live concert, the Platinum Party at the Palace, will take place that evening ahead of the colourful pageant, street parties and the Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday 5 June.
Announcing details at the Victoria & Albert Museum last week, Sir Nicholas Coleridge, co- chairman of the pageant, said: “The Platinum Jubilee weekend is an opportunity for the country to emerge reenergised and renewed, expressing optimism and confidence.
“It will be something of a reopening ceremony for the United Kingdom, following a period of uncertainty and hardship, a catalysing moment of unity and fun.
“Through the fusion of ceremonial and pageantry with razzmatazz and festival, we intend to create a spectacle that is at once energising and memorable and a fitting tribute to the Queen.”
CELEBRATION FIT FOR A QUEEN
The pageant is in three acts, beginning with Ceremonial, which will see serving troops and veterans marching along The Mall.
The second act, entitled Celebration, will feature the dragon puppet The Hatchling leading a procession of more than 5,000 performers past iconic landmarks including Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.
A sea of flags carried by 200 young dancers and created by artists from across the UK and Commonwealth will move
along to music performed by 100 brass and percussion players.
A trapeze artist suspended beneath a huge helium balloon bearing an image of the Queen will perform alongside acrobats and stilt walkers, while ponies, racehorses and corgis will also all be represented to reflect Her Majesty’s lifelong passions.
AN EVENT FOR THE AGES
The show will give a nod to all seven decades of her reign, from the post-war era through to the digital age.
There will also be a third act – but details are being kept secret for now.
Pageant master Adrian Evans, who masterminded the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in 2012, told hello!: “I think it’s immense. There is such warmth and respect for the Queen. I think people want to show their thanks. She’s our favourite granny – she’s everything wrapped up in one.
“It’s a moment when we can all galvanise together, thank her and remember what a remarkable journey we’ve all been on together over the 70 years.”
Poignantly, he said the late Duke of Edinburgh would also be represented throughout the day, adding: “He is a constant presence.”
‘We intend to create a spectacle that is energising and memorable — a fifitting tribute to the Queen’
Her love of outdoor pursuits and horses is well known, so the Queen was in her element last week as she returned to one of her favourite events of the year, the Windsor Horse Show.
Blending in with the crowds in a dresseddown ensemble of a navy gilet over a white blouse, Her Majesty was spotted taking in the sights and sounds. She carried the official programme as she strolled around the event, held in the grounds of her home, Windsor Castle. A highlight of her day was presenting the British Horse Society Queen’s Award for Equestrianism to actor Martin Clunes, the society’s president.
TWICE THE FUN
It was the second day the Queen had attended the show, held virtually last year due to the pandemic. On day one, elegant in a teal coat over a patterned dress, with a pearl necklace and earrings plus sunglasses for the fine weather, she was joined by Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who was a close friend and carriage driving companion of the Queen’s husband the Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April.
Also there was the Countess of Wessex, whose daughter Lady Louise, 17, was defending her title as reserve junior champion in the Champagne Laurent-Perrier meet of the British Driving Society. The teenager learned carriage driving from her grandfather, a long- time enthusiast of the sport.
Sophie also found time to browse the stalls,
treating herself to a navy blue fedora hat from milliner Hayfield England.
The Queen is a regular fixture at the horse show, which is now in its 77th year; she is believed to have attended every year since it began in 1943 as a wartime fundraiser.
Featuring some of the world’s top equestrians, it is split into five categories – showjumping, dressage, driving, show and endurance and, out of 1,700 entries received this year, 22 belonged to Her Majesty.
The Queen is a regular fifixture at the horse show
It’s thought she has attended every year since 1943