From Thursday June 2 to Sunday June 5, England celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. A major event for the Crown, Her Majesty being the first to celebrate her 70 years of reign, but also around the world, fans of the British royal family being numerous. This is enough to generate many questions around this long-awaited platinum jubilee. What is the jubilee? Where to follow him? Who will be there? And even how to make the Jubilee pudding? Here are answers to the five questions everyone is asking on the monarch’s 96-year reign anniversary.
Already, what is this platinum jubilee? It is the anniversary of 70 years of reign, from the grandmother of Princes William and Harry. 70 years ago, Elizabeth II, who was then only 25 years old, acceded to the throne, after the death of her father George VI. His coronation took place a few months later, on June 2, 1953 in Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth II is above all the first British monarch to reach 70 years of reign at the head of the United Kingdom, but also of 14 Commonwealth countries and 14 overseas territories. A major anniversary worthy of the many festivities organized on the occasion. Buckingham Palace has pulled out all the stops.
The famous balcony of the Palace, the mass and a supercharged parade
From when to when does this platinum jubilee take place? Here is the program: Thursday, June 2, the ceremony of Trooping the Color opens the ball. A parade of over 1,500 British Army soldiers and musicians representing a tradition that dates back more than two centuries. And with a central event that attracts all eyes: the appearance of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham. The opportunity to see the children of Kate Middleton and Prince William, George, Charlotte and Louis, stars of the royal family. In the evening more than 2,800 signal lights will be lit at the palace and across the UK. The next day, Friday, June 3, place at the mass which will be held in Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London, with the bell of the Great Paul which will be rung. Saturday June 4, Elizabeth II will attend the 243rd edition of the prestigious Epsom derby, a horse race that she particularly likes. In the evening, it’s time for the big party at Buckingham Palace, the BBC Platinium Party, with Diana Ross and Elton John in particular. On Sunday, June 5, millions of people will take part in festive meals in the open air all over the country. Then, the jubilee will end with the great festive parade to the palace, with the interpretation of the national anthem God Save the Queendirected by Ed Sheeran.
Where to follow the jubilee ceremony? Many channels in France will offer programs around this great celebration, but also live. So where to watch and above all who is presenting?Stéphane Bern on France 2, with Julian Bugier, but also Denis Brogniart on board of a double-decker bus, for TF1, while Anne-Claire Coudray and Gilles Bouleau take care of the live on set. Many royal experts are expected during these special broadcasts and continuous news channels such as BFMTV or Franceinfo will naturally offer to follow the platinum jubilee of Elizabeth II as well. France 3 will broadcast an issue of Roots and Wings devoted to the monarch. (A TV program to be found in more detail here.)
Which members of the royal family will be there?
Who will be present at this Platinum Jubilee? It is obvious that Kate Middleton and Prince William and their three children will surround the Queen on the balcony and at all the other events of this jubilee. The same goes for future heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. On the other hand, will not be welcome on this balcony, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as well as Prince Andrew, too blacklisted due to recent setbacks. On the other hand, the Sussex couple will indeed return to England to participate in the jubilee, alongside their two children, Archie and little Lilibet Diana, who will meet the queen for the first time.
Many of Her Majesty’s great-grandchildren will also be able to upstage her. We will count the presence of 10 to 12 great-grandchildren aboard a horse-drawn carriage. Including Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Savannah and Isla Phillips (the daughters of Peter Phillips and his ex-wife Autumn Kelly), Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall (the children of Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall), August Brooksbank (the son of Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank) as well as Sienna Mapelli Mozzi (the daughter of Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi).
How to prepare Jubilee pudding?
Finally, and this is a question that should be on everyone’s lips: how to prepare the famous Jubilee pudding? Our friends at 750g reveal the recipe to you because this famous pudding should be enthroned on all the tables of Her Majesty’s subjects. Thanks to a contest, it was Jemma Melvin, a 31-year-old advertiser, who saw her pudding become the official one. And it’s a recipe with lemon trifle and amaretti. And you will find the recipe here, then to your spatulas! To accompany with a tea, of course.