USA TODAY International Edition
Main events planned for Diamond Jubilee
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations will feature such events as an equestrian extravaganza at Windsor Castle, the lighting of beacons across the land, a solemn cathedral thanksgiving service and a procession in the eight- horse- drawn Gold State Coach, a 250- year- old fairy- tale- style enclosed carriage used at every coronation since George IV in 1821, last seen at the queen’s Golden Jubilee 10 years ago. Some highlights:
Saturday, June 2
The queen will attend the Epsom Derby. A keen horse- racing fan and horse breeder, she typically attends the races at Epsom and Ascot, which mark the height of the royal social season.
Sunday, June 3
The Big Jubilee Lunch: Taking a cue from the popular Big Lunch initiative, the Jubilee celebration will encourage people to share lunch with neighbors and friends either at a traditional street party or a picnic lunch.
The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant: In tribute to Britain’s maritime heritage, a flotilla of1,000 boats, from kayaks to antique tall ships, will follow the queen and her heirs on the Royal Barge for 7 miles down the Thames from Putney to Tower Bridge, while tens of thousands of people line the shores to cheer.
Monday, June 4
The Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace: Tickets to the show, which will be televised by the BBC, will be available to U. K.
residents by public ballot. The musical program features British and Commonwealth musicians.
The Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee beacons: A network of 2,012 beacons will be lit throughout the U. K., the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, British Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth. As in 2002 for her Golden Jubilee, the queen will light the National Beacon.
Tuesday, June 5
Service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral and a formal carriage procession led by the queen in the Gold State Coach.
Other Jubilee- related events and exhibits happening earlier:
The Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the evenings of May 10,11and13 in the private grounds of Windsor Castle: More than 500 horses and 800 dancers, musicians, military and equestrian performers from around the world will put on a show, Around the World in 60 Years and 90 Minutes, to pay
tribute to the queen.
The Jubilee Woods Project: The Woodland Trust is helping to organize millions of people to plant 6 million trees in their communities. Led by the queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, the project aims to create hundreds of Jubilee Woods across the country, and 60 special Diamond Woods of at least 60 acres, to transform England’s landscape.
In addition, the queen and Prince Philip will travel across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to celebrate, and members of the royal family will represent the queen at celebrations abroad.