What we know so far about celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The Queen reaches 70 years on the throne in 2022 and national commemorations will be held in June of that year.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations may be more than 18 months away, but plans are being set out to mark the monarch’s historic milestone.

Here is what we know so far:

– Extra bank holiday

The public will get an extra day off as part of a “blockbuster” four-day weekend of celebrations from June 2-5 2022.

The Diamond Jubilee — Fireworks above Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee Concert in 2012 (Ian West/PA)

– Traditional pageantry and state of the art displays

The celebrations will feature a busy programme of events – yet to be announced.

The Queen rides in the Gold State coach to St Paul’s Cathedral for a service of Thanksgiving during the Golden Jubilee in 2002 (John Giles/PA)

– But not on the River Thames

For the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the rest of the royal family endured an extremely wet and windy trip down the Thames as part of a river pageant.

Members of the Royal family onboard the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant (John Stillwell/PA)

“The one thing I might resist committing to given our experience of 2012 and the Diamond Jubilee is doing anything on the River Thames again,” he told MPs.

Diamond Jubilee celebrations – Thames Pageant — Well wishers watch the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in the rain (Dan Kitwood/PA)

– Street parties

Street parties are synonymous with royal jubilees.

Residents of Woodford Bridge, Essex, celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee with a street party for local children in 1977 (PA)

– Trees

Trees will be planted up and down the country to mark the Jubilee.

The Queen planting a tree in Edinburgh in 2015 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

– Funding

How the celebrations will be paid for and how much they cost will be a key issue amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Crowds at the Golden Jubilee pop concert (John Giles/PA)

Mr Dowden said both he and the Royal Household will ensure that money is spent “very wisely”.

– Security

The Treasury will also have to decide on how to foot the security bill for the mass-scale events.

Police — A police officer enjoys the atmosphere on the Mall in London during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations (John Cantlie/PA)

Members of the royal family are expected to take part in the celebrations over the extended weekend and in the run-up to the four-day extravaganza.

Senior royals are likely to be carrying out country-wide visits, just as they have done ahead of previous jubilees.

Diamond Jubilee celebrations — The Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, the Queen, the Cambridges and Prince Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee (David Jones/PA)

Politicians will have a whip-round to pay for a gift for the Queen.

A cross-party board with members from both Houses of Parliament will be set up to decide on the chosen present, with the money coming from personal donations, rather than public funds.

Solicitor General Michael Ellis who organised the Diamond Jubilee gift, of a stained glass window in Westminster Hall, will lead the project.

Guests look at the Diamond Jubilee stained glass window (Dan Kitwood/PA)

– Jubilee Medal

In keeping with tradition, a Platinum Jubilee medal will be awarded to people who work in public service including representatives of the Armed Forces, the emergency services and the prison services.