What is Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee? Here’s your royal guide.
LONDON — Britain is celebrating its longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in her Platinum Jubilee year.
The 96-year-old queen is being toasted across the nation with four days of events showcasing the best of British pomp and pageantry. Crowds in London will try to catch a glimpse of royal family members on the Buckingham Palace balcony, while others will attend concerts and street parties or simply enjoy the national holiday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the celebrations.
What is the Platinum Jubilee?
The Platinum Jubilee marks Elizabeth’s 70th year on the throne. She is the first British monarch to reach that milestone. Her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria was the previous longest-serving monarch, reigning for 63 years before her death at age 81 in 1901.
Let’s back up. What even is a jubilee?
A jubilee is an anniversary celebration with Judeo-Christian origins that was adapted to mark milestones of a British monarch. The third book of the Old Testament, Leviticus, tells people to “sanctify the fiftieth year … for it is the year of jubilee.
Records from the 14th century show that King Edward III celebrated 50 years on the throne, his Golden Jubilee, with a week-long joust and a procession from the Tower of London. But many of today’s jubilee traditions can be traced to the reign of King George III, best known for his poor mental health and for losing the American colonies. The beginning of his 50th year on the throne was marked with church services, feasts, fireworks and souvenirs.
When is the Platinum Jubilee, and how long will it last?
Elizabeth became queen on the day her father died: Feb. 6, 1952. But the main anniversary celebrations are happening over a four-day public holiday this week, with events from Thursday to Sunday.
Platinum Jubilee: A last bash for Queen Elizabeth II and the party Brits need
What is the Platinum Jubilee schedule?
Video: How will Queen Elizabeth's reign be remembered? (Reuters)
Thursday: The celebrations will kick off with Trooping the Colour, a military parade in honor of the queen’s official birthday. In the evening, more than 3,200 beacons will be ignited, reimagining and repurposing the torchlight relays once deployed in England to warn of possible invasion.
Friday: The queen and royal family will attend a church service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Queen Victoria marked her Diamond Jubilee here in 1897 with a similar service.
Saturday: The royal family will attend a horse race at Epsom Downs, south of London. The queen, though a keen rider and horse breeder, may miss the event to attend a birthday party for her great-granddaughter Lilibet, daughter of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan. In the evening, a concert featuring Elton John, Diana Ross and Andrea Bocelli will take place at Buckingham Palace for an audience of 22,000 people.