The Real Queen of Hearts
Her Majesty is the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of sterling service…

Britain will honour an historic reign next month as the Queen records seven decades of loyal duty to her country. The Platinum Jubilee celebrations focus around the largest pageant ever seen in London but other major events are designed to send a message of joyacross the land.
The official festivities in London will include Trooping the Colour on June 2, a magnificent lunch hosted by the Lord Mayor, as well as the Queen lighting a bonfire to spark a relay of 1,500 Beacons across the country and Commonwealth. On June 4, Her Majesty will attend the Derby at Epsom, followed by the Platinum Party at the Palace -a live concert from Buckingham Palace that will be screened on the BBC.

Almost 7,000 performers will take part in the capital’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant on June 5 - a global audience of more than one billion is expected to watch the event unfold on television. The enormous procession will wind its way across the city as a million well-wishers line the route.
On the same day, the Eden Project’s Big Jubilee Lunch has the theme of encouraging people to foster a sense of community – time to unravel the bunting, or simply enjoy a barbecue with neighbours. For those who want a more permanent reminder of the day, more than 60,000 trees are being planted across the country as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Project.
The Windsor Horse Show is one of Her Majesty’s favourite events. The ‘Gallop Through History’ spectacular this year runs from May 12-15. And later in the summer, Buckingham Palace will feature the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Accession display of official portraits, from July 22 to October 2.

The Royal Mint is celebrating the Royal occasion with a series of gold and silver collector’s coins, while expect every shape and size of commemorative mug to pop up on the internet!
Throughout the year, in Rutland and elsewhere, the nation will come together as one for a series of patriotic street parties and festivities to mark a once in a Royal lifetime occasion never seen before.
It’s also time for reflection, as the Queen remembers Prince Philip – her constant companion for more than 70 years of royal duty. The Duke of Edinburgh first visited Rutland in 1957. He presented a ceremonial horseshoe that still hangs in Oakham Castle’s Great Hall collection.

The Queen then accompanied her husband on a brief stop in Stamford in 1961, including tea at Burghley House. However, the couple’s first ‘official’ tour wasn’t until 1967, when Her didn’t take place until June 2, 1953 due to a period of mourning for the late king.
Some will remember the Queen’s 1977 Silver Jubilee, which celebrated 25 years on the throne. Back then, the Royal couple travelled to 36 counties in the UK during s series of six jubilee tours. But that wasn’t the end of it – they then travelled 56,000 miles around the Commonwealth.
Unfortunately, the Ruby Jubilee in 1992 was not a year to remember. In fact, it was best summed up in the Queen’s ‘annus horribilis’ speech, after three of her children endured failed marriages, a Princess Diana autobiography and a fire at Windsor Castle.

Majesty also visited Oakham Castle with a horseshoe of her own. After Prince Philip returned to Rutland to open a birdwatching centre at Egleton in 2001, the Queen then made a Diamond Jubilee visit to Stamford alone in 2012.
In Rutland, like the rest of the country, the June 2 – 4 four-day Jubilee will see pubs able to stay open for longer and drinkers given an extra two hours to celebrate the royal milestone. It’s set to be one of the busiest, booziest weekends of the year!
The Queen ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 following the death of her father, George VI. The 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth was on safari in Kenya with Prince Philip when the sad news was delivered. However, her coronation

A decade later, the Golden Jubilee started on a sad note, with the death of both the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret early in 2002. As always, Her Majesty battled on with another extensive series of tours, despite her 76 years.
The Diamond Jubilee in 2012 was only the second time in history a monarch achieved 60 years on the throne. Despite appalling weather, she famously watched from the Royal Barge as 1,000 boats took part in a pageant on the River Thames. Later, a pop concert outside Buckingham Palace featured Kylie Minogue and Stevie Wonder.
Queen Elizabeth II’s latest milestone anniversary is likely to be the most memorable ever. After breaking Queen Victoria’s record as the longest reigning monarch in history, Her Royal Highness seems unstoppable in her determination to do her duty to the country she loves.