Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee

By: C. Paixão

On February 2nd, 2022, her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, became the first British Monarch to complete 70 years of service. To celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, many festivities and events took place throughout the United Kingdom and the country received a four-bank holiday weekend, starting on June 2nd.  
 
Throughout the UK, events took place to celebrate and honour the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, ranging from the Platinum Jubilee Pageant to the BBC’s Platinum party at Buckingham Palace. Some events of the extended weekend that marked the celebration were the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, the BBC’s Platinum party, the Queen’s Parade (Trooping the colour), the Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs, and the Service of Thanksgiving of the Platinum Jubilee. The events were open to the public, where the people were able to celebrate the weekend with the Royal Family, and the queen herself. Also, the Victoria and Albert Museum displayed the award-winning design of the V&A Platinum Jubilee Emblem Competition.  
 
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant took place in Buckingham Palace, where street art, music, theatre, circus, carnival and costumes were all combined to make the pageant an exciting event for those who attended.  
 
The BBC’s Platinum Jubilee party took place on June 4th in Buckingham Palace, where the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Mike Dixon, was featured. Many famous musicians from around the world were invited to play in honour of Her Majesty, in the party. These artists include Adam Lambert, Diana Ross, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow, George Ezra, Duran Duran, Andrea Bocelli, Mimi Webb, Sam Ryder, Jax Jones, Celeste, Nile Rodgers, Sigala and Diversity – all performing their biggest hits on stage in tribute to the Queen’s anniversary.

​Moreover, stars from the stage and screen include, Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry, Dame Julie Andrews, The Royal Ballet, Ellie Simmonds, and a recorded performance from Sir Elton John, Sam Ryder, and the UK’s Eurovision hero, who performed live directly from Italy.  
 
The Queen’s Parade (Trooping the colour) took place on June 2nd in Buckingham Palace, where more than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians came together in the parade to celebrate this important date and event in honour of the Queen. 
 
The Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs took place on June 3rd and 4th in the Epsom Downs Racecourse, where one of the most famous and prestigious horseracing events takes place in the UK, also known as the Greatest Flat Race in the World. As a part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, the Queen, accompanied by the Royal Family, attended the Derby at Epsom Downs. 
 
The Service of Thanksgiving took place on June 3rd at the St. Paul’s Cathedral, where Bible readings, anthems and prayers will happen in order to honour the Queen for her 70 years of service for the people of UK, the Realms and the Commonwealth.  
 
Apart from events in the United Kingdom, St. Paul’s School, a British school in São Paulo, celebrated the Queen’s 70-year reign with many activities, such as guess the tea flavour, quizzes on the British history, bake-sales to rase money for charity, board games about the British timeline of historical events, treasure hunts, decorating cupcakes with the colours of the UK’s flag, acting of the British Royal Family and much more. The events took place in the school grounds itself, from 8am to 15:30pm, where teachers, parents and children took part in the activities to honour her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.  ​