Mark Cuthbert, Getty Images
With the Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place, much of June will focus on London, with Buckingham Palace providing a backdrop for many of the events. However, it has now been announced that members of the royal family will be touring around the UK between June 2nd and 6th, attending celebrations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“Over the course of Central Weekend, members of the Royal Family will visit the nations of the United Kingdom to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement today. “Members of the Royal Family will attend engagements in each nation, including public events to mark the occasion.” Prince William and Kate will travel to Wales, Prince Edward and Sophie will be in Northern Ireland and Princess Anne will visit Scotland, with further details to be announced in due course are given.
The Platinum Jubilee weekend begins on Thursday 2nd June with a special Trooping the Color and later that day beacons are lit across the UK and Commonwealth. A Thanksgiving service will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 3 June. On Saturday 4 June, the Queen is hoping to attend the Epsom Derby and there will be a concert outside Buckingham Palace in the evening. On the final day of celebrations on Sunday 5 June, people are encouraged to host their own ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ picnics or street parties and a parade will make its way through central London to the Palace.
Buckingham Palace announced last week that, contrary to Trooping the Color tradition, only working royals will appear on the palace balcony after the event. The decision avoids controversy that Prince Andrew’s appearance would certainly attract attention this way, although it is believed he will be attending events as a member of the family throughout the weekend. The move also means Prince Harry and Meghan will not make a balcony appearance as the Platinum Jubilee celebrations begin, cementing the position they now occupy alongside other non-working royals. They themselves announced last week that they will be traveling to the UK with Archie and Lilibet and were “excited and honored” to be attending the celebrations. It was previously uncertain if they would make the trip as Prince Harry has taken legal action against the UK Home Office over his security arrangements in the country. Her visit will mark the first time Lilibet, who will turn one on June 4, will meet the royal family.
While royal sources said the 96-year-old Queen is looking forward to the weekend and planning to attend, her attendance at events will only be confirmed closer to the time and possibly on the day itself. Continued mobility issues have forced her to cancel several public events in recent months, including Remembrance Sunday and the Commonwealth Service.
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