During her reign, The Queen has reached important milestones in her personal and public life. Some of these have been celebrated publicly. Such events help reinforce the Sovereign’s role as a focus for national identity and unity as people across the Commonwealth come together to mark an important occasion for their Head of State. The Diamond Jubilee takes place in 2012, marking 60 years of The Queen’s reign. The Queen came to the throne on 6th February 1952 (her Coronation took place on 2nd June 1953). Buckingham Palace is responsible for coordinating the events of the Diamond Jubilee central weekend (2nd–5th June 2012), as well as for organising The Queen’s programme in her Diamond Jubilee year. An outline of The Queen’s Programme and details of where other Members of the Royal Family are visiting in 2012 have been announced.
The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is the international celebration throughout 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. Queen Victoria in 1897 is the only other monarch in the histories of the United Kingdom, Canada,Australia and a few other Commonwealth realms to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee. Following the tradition of jubilees past, a Diamond Jubilee medal is being awarded in various countries and holidays and events will be held throughout the Commonwealth. Plans were discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011. In the United Kingdom, national and regional events to mark the Diamond Jubilee are being co-ordinated by the Queen-in-Council and her Royal Household at Buckingham Palace. As with the Golden Jubilee in 2002, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for co-ordinating the Cabinet-led aspects of the celebrations.Events are being planned so as to keep the use of tax money to a minimum; most funds used to fund celebrations are being drawn from private donors and sponsors. Only security is to be paid for from Crown coffers.
On 5 January 2010, the Lord President of the Council and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced that an extra bank holiday would take place on Tuesday, 5 June 2012. By moving the Spring Bank Holiday (the last Monday in May) to 4 June, this will result in a four-day holiday in honour of the Diamond Jubilee, coinciding with the Queen’s Official Birthday in the United Kingdom, also on 4 June.As national holidays are a devolved matter, Scotland’s first minister confirmed that the bank holiday would be held on 5 June in Scotland. Some economists later theorised that the holiday could reduce the country’s gross domestic product by 0.5% in the second quarter of the year, though this would be partially offset by increased sales for the hospitality and merchandise sectors.
A large event will be staged in London on that weekend,which is to include a diamond jubilee concert,organised and produced by singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, and a maritime parade of boats and events along the Thames on 3 June, in which 1,000 boats are expected to take part (the largest flotilla to be seen on the river in 350 years) and some one million people are expected to watch from the banks.The Queen and other members of the Royal family will be carried down the Thames on a special Royal barge. To mark the jubilee, the Queen has bestowed Royal Borough status on Greenwhich, in south-east London.The Olympic park in East London, created for the 2012 Olympics, will be named the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following the Olympics.Further, 60 Jubilee woodlands are planned to be established by the Woodland Trust through 2011 and 2012, one of which is to be 500 acres and the remainder 60 acres each. On Accession Day (6, February), a 62- gun salute was mounted on the banks of the Thames, near the Tower of London. The Queen made a visit to Norfolk, one of the first places the monarch visited after acceding to the throne. The Queen will address both houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall on 20 March 2012. Similar personal addresses to Parliament were made at her silver and golden jubilees
Regional visits within the UK by
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh
The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will mark the Diamond Jubilee with a series of regional visits and engagements throughout the United Kingdom during 2012. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness, supported by other Members of the Royal Family, will be travelling as widely as possible across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Details of the programme will include:
| 29th March | North London |
| 26th – 27th April | Wales |
| 1st – 2nd May | South West England |
| 15th May | South London |
| 16th – 17th May | North West England |
| 2nd – 5th June | Central Weekend |
| 13th – 14th June | East Midlands and East Anglia |
| 25th June and 25th July | South East England |
| 2nd – 6th July | Scotland (Holyrood Week) |
| 11th – 12th July | West Midlands |
| 18th – 19th July | North East England |
Overseas visits by Members of the Royal Family
Members of the Royal Family will travel overseas representing The Queen throughout the Diamond Jubilee year, visiting every Realm as well as undertaking visits to Commonwealth countries, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories.
Her Majesty has asked that these visits include the following:
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall: Channel Islands, Isle of Man
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: Malaysia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu
Prince Harry: Belize, Jamaica, The Bahamas
The Duke of York: India
The Earl and Countess of Wessex: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Gibraltar, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
The Princess Royal: Mozambique, Zambia
The Duke of Gloucester: British Virgin Islands, Malta
The Duke of Kent: Falkland Islands, Uganda
Further details will be announced in due course.
Diamond Jubilee Pageant
The Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place on 10, 11, 12 and 13 May 2012 in Windsor. For further information please visit www.diamond-jubilee-pageant.com.
Central Weekend, 2 – 5 June 2012
The Central Weekend to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee takes place from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June 2012, with celebratory activities throughout the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. The Jubilee Weekend features an extra Bank Holiday for the Diamond Jubilee, with the late May Bank Holiday moved one week later, thereby making a 4-day long weekend. The government announced the extra Bank Holiday for the Diamond Jubilee on 5 January 2010. Buckingham Palace is responsible for the coordination of the central weekend, and the outline of the main programme is as follows:
Saturday 2 June, 2012 The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby.
Sunday 3 June, 2012 The Big Jubilee Lunch:
Building on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, people will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. This may take the form of a traditional street party or a picnic lunch in small or larger groups. This event is being organised by the Big Lunch, http://www.thebiglunch.com.
The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant: This event will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the flotilla. This event is being organised by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation
Monday 4 June, 2012 BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace:
There will be a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace with tickets being available to UK residents by public ballot. The musical programme for the concert is still being planned and is expected to feature British and Commonwealth musicians. 
Details on how to apply for the concert will be available in due course. This event is being organised by the BBC. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons: A network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. As in 2002, The Queen will light the National Beacon. The beacons project is being organised by Diamond Jubilee Beacons Ltd. – http://www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk/
Tuesday 5 June, 2012 Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession:
There will be a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a formal carriage Procession by The Queen.
A. Celebrations What is Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee? The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee marks 60 years since her accession in 1952. Royal Jubilees celebrate significant periods in monarchs’ reigns and national life. In 2012, The Queen will become only the second UK monarch to mark 60 years on the throne. Celebrations were previously held for Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 and Golden Jubilee in 2002.
When exactly is The Queen marking her Diamond Jubilee? While Accession Day is on 6th February, celebrations will occur throughout 2012, with a special extended bank holiday central weekend in the United Kingdom on 2nd-5th June.
What events will take place over this bank holiday central weekend? On Saturday 2nd June, The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby. On Sunday 3rd June the Big Jubilee Lunch and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place. On Monday 4th June a concert will be held at Buckingham Palace and a network of beacons will be lit throughout the UK and the Commonwealth. On Tuesday 5th June a Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage Procession.
Will there be events at other times during the year? There will be many other events held locally and on a national scale. For example, in May 2012 a Diamond Jubilee Pageant will be held, as part of the Windsor Horse Show, involving equine displays and other acts from around the world.
For more information and news on Jubilee events and activities, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/diamondjubilee or see national and local media as further details are announced.
I would like to organise an event in my local area. Whom do I contact? People should make contact with the appropriate organisations or representatives – for example, one of the organisations involved with the central weekend, Lord Lieutenancies and local authorities.
Will Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee be marked in other Realm countries? Her Majesty is Queen in 15 Commonwealth Realms in addition to the United Kingdom. The British Monarchy and UK Government websites will carry details only for those events and celebrations taking place in the United Kingdom. More details will be available elsewhere about activities taking place in Her Majesty’s other Realms.
B. Central Jubilee Weekend Events Big Jubilee Lunch I would like to organise a street party or Big Jubilee Lunch. Who should I contact for more information?
The Big Jubilee Lunch is being organised by the Big Lunch, which is part of the Eden Project. It will be held on Sunday 3rd June 2012.
For more information please see www.thebiglunch.com or contact info@thebiglunch.com
Thames Pageant From where can I watch the Pageant? Details about where spectators can view the Pageant will be announced by the organisers in due course. Please see http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/ for more details.
Can I register a vessel to take part? Boat registrations are open until 31st October 2011. Please see http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/ for more details.
Can I get tickets to be on a boat sailing in the flotilla? Further details about the Pageant will be announced on the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant website in due course.
Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace When is the concert? The Queen is hosting a concert organised by the BBC at Buckingham Palace on Monday 4th June.
Can I apply for tickets? Details of how to apply for an invitation to the Concert will be announced in early 2012. Successful applicants, chosen by ballot, will be notified in writing.
Can I perform during the concert? The content of the concert will be decided by the BBC.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons Can I light a Beacon? Details of how to take part in Beacon lighting ceremonies are available on www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk
When will the Beacons be lit? The Queen will light the National Beacon on Monday 4th June. Further details about the lighting of Beacons will be announced by Diamond Jubilee Beacons Ltd.
Ceremonial Procession Will there be a ceremonial procession to or from the Service of Thanksgiving, and if so, from where can I watch it? There will be a formal carriage procession but details of the routes to and from the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral will be announced closer to the time and published on the Monarchy website.
C. Commemorative Articles Can I produce Diamond Jubilee Souvenirs? The Lord Chamberlain’s Office at Buckingham Palace produces definitive guidelines on the use of the Royal Arms, Royal Devices, Emblems and Titles and of photographs, portraits, engravings, effigies and busts of The Queen and Members of the Royal Family.
Special guidelines for the use of protected Royal Devices on souvenirs have been produced for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and can be found here
Where can I find the Official Diamond Jubilee Emblem? The Official Diamond Jubilee Emblem is based on an illustration by 10 year-old Katherine Dewar who won a BBC Blue Peter competition. It is available to download, free of charge from the Monarchy website and comes in a number of electronic formats; in English and in Welsh; and in colour, black and white and whiteout.
Where can I use the Emblem? The emblem is available for use for activities associated with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations including community and national events, publications, retail and merchandising.
Unofficial Publications As you would expect, the Royal Household takes seriously any reports of individuals or organisations using the Jubilee to raise money in an inappropriate or unauthorised manner. No official publication has been authorised by the Royal Household. If you are invited to donate money to “official publications”, please write to The Queen’s Assistant Private Secretary, at Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA.
D. Use of The Queen’s title, name and emblems Can I name something after The Queen or the Diamond Jubilee? As is customary in Jubilee years, the Deputy Prime Minister and the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales have been given discretion to sanction the use of The Queen’s title and name. A blanket approval is in place for the use of “Diamond Jubilee” and “Jubilee” for community events and buildings (subject to the proviso that building works start or finish in 2012, and events take place in 2012). Permission need not be sought for the use of the titles “Diamond Jubilee” and “Jubilee” in these circumstances.
Applications to use “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee”, “Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee” and “Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee” must be submitted in writing. Applications in respect of England, Northern Ireland or any of the Crown Dependencies – Parliament and Constitution Division of the Cabinet Office; applications in respect of Scotland or Wales where responsibility for the subject of the application remains with the UK Government – to the Scotland Office and Wales Office respectively.
Can I use an image of the Crown or The Queen’s Cypher (EIIR) for my Jubilee event/project? Applications to use an image of the Crown, The Queen’s Cypher (EIIR) or Her Majesty’s Coat of Arms must be submitted to the Constitutional and Policy team in the Parliament and Constitution Division of the Cabinet Office. E. Invitations to Visit Will The Queen or other Members of the Royal Family be visiting my local area in 2012? The Queen’s Programme and details of where other Members of the Royal Family will visit will be announced in 2012. Please continue to check the Monarchy website for updates.
I would like to invite The Queen to my Diamond Jubilee event. How do I do this? The Queen will be extraordinarily busy during her Diamond Jubilee and it will not be possible for her to accept all of the many invitations she will receive. However, if you wish to invite Her Majesty to an event please write to The Queen’s Diary Secretary at Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA.
F. Other I would like to compose a piece of music for The Queen for her Diamond Jubilee. Can I perform or dedicate it to Her Majesty? We have been overwhelmed by generous offers to compose or perform pieces of music in celebration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee next year and while there would of course be no objection to musical events of this nature taking place, it will not be possible to associate The Queen directly with these events.
How do I find out more information about Diamond Jubilee projects and events between now and next year? For those events listed above and taking place over the Jubilee central weekend, please see their individual websites for more details as they are announced. Alternatively, the Government DirectGov website will be updated with further news and announcements as they occur.
What events will take place over this bank holiday central weekend? On Saturday 2nd June, The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby. On Sunday 3rd June the Big Jubilee Lunch and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place. On Monday 4th June a concert will be held at Buckingham Palace and a network of beacons will be lit throughout the UK and the Commonwealth. On Tuesday 5th June a Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage Procession.
