In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II took the throne. Now, it’s time to celebrate her 70th year in service.
The Platinum Jubilee is set to commemorate the momentous anniversary, a landmark that no other monarch in British history has achieved.
To celebrate the unprecedented achievement, Buckingham Palace is pulling out all the stops. While a number of events have taken place throughout 2022, this weekend — dubbed the Platinum Jubilee Weekend — will mark the culmination of the celebrations and feature a large variety of public events and community activities.
It has been a decade since the Queen’s last public jubilee, the Diamond Jubilee. Several other jubilees have taken place throughout Queen Elizabeth’s reign, including the 1977 Silver Jubilee marking 25 years and the 2002 Golden Jubilee celebrating 50 years.
This weekend’s festivities kick off on June 2 at 10 a.m. BST (5 a.m. ET) with the Queen’s birthday parade —known as “Trooping the Colour” — where more than 1,200 officers from the Queen’s personal troops are joined by hundreds of Army musicians and 240 horses for a massive parade through Central London. Throughout the weekend, viewers will see the country pay tribute to the Queen’s reign through prayer services, horse races, a live concert featuring the likes of Sir Elton John and Alicia Keys, street parties and a pageant.
It’s not clear when viewers will see the Queen over the weekend since, at 96 years old, her mobility is limited, but most senior royals are expected to attend the jubilee weekend events.
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, left, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, left, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge ride in a carriage as they make their way to the Trooping the Color, in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)
Prince George, left, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte
Prince George, left, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte ride in a carriage as they make their way to the Trooping the Color, in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Ian Vogler/Pool via AP)
The Royal Family
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William watch from the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Prince William and Princess Anne
Prince William and Princess Anne salute during the Trooping the Color, in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)
Photo : AP
Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor
Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor ride in a carriage as the Royal Procession leaves Buckingham Palace along The Mall heading for the Trooping the Color in London, Wednesday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Photo : AP
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
Britain’s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis watch the Trooping of the Color in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool)
Photo : AP
Cavalrymen
Cavalrymen ride their horses along The Mall during the Trooping the Color in London, Wednesday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Kent
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Kent watch from the balcony during the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)
Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William watch from the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service.(Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Britain’s Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is seen in the rear of a car as she is driven along the Mall, in London, Wednesday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Paul Ellis/Pool Photo via AP)
Guards marching
Guards march along The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex ride in a carriage during the Trooping the Color in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Yui Mok/Pool via AP)
