A guide to events and where to watch the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations

The platinum jubilee celebrates the Queen's 70 years on the throne. A British classic car run of 70 vehicles and a 70k ultramarathon are just a few of the celebratory events planned to mark this historic occasion

It's going to be a jolly Royal event. Time for all around the world all get involved in celebrating Her Majesty’s historic reign. In fact, across the UK there will be around 200,000 events set to take place between Thursday and Sunday.

Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on 6th February 1952 when HRH was only 25 years old. HRH will be 96 when she celebrates her platinum jubilee and is expected to celebrate alongside her son, Charles, The Prince of Wales, and his wife, Camilla.

Sadly, the Queen will not be celebrating this time with the late Duke of Edinburgh. The first jubilee celebrations without him. It is also unsure as to which events the Queen herself will attend of the many that are planned.

Once again, the summer months have been chosen for the main celebration, with a chance of finer weather than there was in February. There is a four day bank holiday, along with various performances, pageants and incentives to mark the occasion.

A search for a new pudding was included in the celebratory line-up. In January the hunt began for the jubilee pudding. People could present their ideas for their dish that marks the historic reign of Elizabeth II. Finalists have been judged by Dame Mary Berry and Masterchef's Monica Galetti and the winning Platinum Pudding will be shared with the public and enjoyed at jubilee.

On Saturday evening there will be a live concert which is set to include some of the biggest entertainment stars from the Queen's reign. The "BBC Platinum Party at the Palace" is open to the public (around 22,000 have tickets) and hosted by Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp.

More than 1,500 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK and its overseas territories will light a beacon to mark the Jubilee. It is the first time capitals from the Commonwealth will take part in lighting the beacons.

The design for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal has already been unveiled. It will be awarded to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and the Armed Forces, acting as a token of the nation’s thanks.

Image: Royal.uk

Another incentive for the jubilee is a unique tree planting encouragement called The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC). HRH has invited people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”. Everyone from individuals to local groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates will be encouraged to play their part to enhance our environment by planting trees. Tree planting will start again in October 2022, through to the end of the Jubilee year.

The Jubilee Weekend celebrations will also see "Big Jubilee Lunches" take place across Britain, including events in London and at Cornwall's Eden Project, where the initial idea for the lunches originated. Almost 70,000 have been organised.

Across the four days the celebrations will include public events and community activities, not to mention many national moments of reflections on The Queen’s 70 years of service. The official government website has laid out the exact plans for the long bank holiday weekend, ready for everyone to pop it into our diaries now.

Trooping the Colour will once again see parading soldiers, along with 200 horses and 400 musicians who will come together in the traditional Parade to mark The Queen's official birthday, usually held on the second Saturday in June.

Tickets have been available to the public for the Trooping The Colour event that will begin at Buckingham Palace. The Parade will then move down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade, joined by Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages. The Parade will close with the traditional RAF fly-past, watched by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

This is also that day that the lanterns will be lit across the globe - in more than 1,500 locations around the world. The royal family will also light the principle beacon at the palace - a tree 'of trees' at 21 metres tall.

On the second day of the Bank Holiday weekend - a Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen's reign will be held at St Paul's Cathedral. The Royals will then have a Guildhall lunch with the Lord Mayor.

Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by Members of the Royal Family, will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs - should her mobility issues not prevent her.

The same day, the BBC will stage and broadcast a special live concert from Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant and joyous moments from The Queen’s seven decade reign. It will run from 8-10.30pm and feature stars including Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran and Diana Ross. For those without tickets, the concert will be broadcast live on BBC One.

People across the country will be invited to sit down together to take part in the Big Jubilee Lunch, with street parties held across the UK. It truly is a spectacular showing of British community.

That day will also give us the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which will be lighting spirits around the area of Buckingham Palace. The pageant will feature 5,000 people from the UK and the Commonwealth performing "pomp and ceremony, street arts, theatre, music, circus, costumes as well as cutting-edge visual technology".

A car show of 70 British cars - one from each year of the Queen's reign - will travel 70 miles through Cornwall from Bodmin to Penzance on 5 June. Also the Platinum Jubilee 70k Ultra will take place in Portsmouth. All will receive a jubilee medal at the finish line

The DCMS has launched a map, so more people can use it to find nearby events for the special bank holiday weekend celebrations. Find one near you and join in the festivities!

Photo: platinumjubilee.gov.uk/events