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From the 2nd to the 5th of June 2022, Britain will celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend as Her Majesty The Queen becomes the first British Monarch to reign on the throne for 70 years. There are no shortage of ways to get involved and to help you plan your activities we’ve put together a list of 10 family-friendly ideas to celebrate this momentous event.
1. Organise a street party
When thinking of ways to celebrate a historical British occasion such as the upcoming Jubilee, one idea immediately springs to mind, and that is a traditional street party. This is not only a great way to commemorate the Jubilee but it's also an opportunity for you and your neighbours to come together.
Divide and conquer when it comes to food, decorations, and entertainment and you’ll most likely find that each of your neighbours quite literally has something different to bring to the table!
2. Bake the official Jubilee pudding
You may have recently watched the delightful show that was ‘The Jubilee Pudding: 70 Years in the Baking’, which showed the final of a prestigious competition to create a new pudding commemorating the Jubilee. A lemon and swiss roll amaretti trifle was crowned the winner, inspired by the lemon posset served at The Queen’s wedding.
With layers of lemon curd swiss rolls, custard, jelly, mandarin coulis, and amaretti biscuits, this pudding is not only delicious but also serves 20 people, making it the perfect pud for any celebration.
3. Host a Jubilee tea party
If making the official Jubilee pudding has sparked a flame for baking, why not host your own Jubilee tea party. Take inspiration from one of the many recipes available on the official Jubilee website, get creative with your own British favourites, or opt for a classic afternoon tea.
Encourage your guests to bring a treat and why not get the children involved by creating some homemade decorations to mark the occasion. Don’t forget to share your event by posting photos online with the hashtags #PlatinumJubilee and #HM70.
4. Celebrate at your local Audley Village with a Royal Tea
If you don’t fancy picking up the mixing bowl, or you simply want to enjoy a luxury dining experience, visit your local Audley Village to enjoy a Royal Tea in one of our restaurants. From Monday 23rd May to Sunday 5th June, you can enjoy our delicious royal twist on an afternoon tea, including coronation chicken sandwiches, royal fruit cake, and even our take on the famous lemon posset.
Complement your feast with a glass of Pimm's and enjoy the stylish surroundings of our restaurants.
5. Check out local events
Throughout the Jubilee weekend people across the country will be hosting, attending, or taking part in a number of events with something fun and exciting almost certainly happening near you. To make it easy to find local events, you can use the official Jubilee website. Simply input your area to access a map of events from street parties, to picnics in the park and musical performances, you're guaranteed to find something that tickles your fancy.
6. Tune in for the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace
On Saturday the 4th of June, the world’s leading entertainers will take to the stage at Buckingham Palace to honour iconic cultural moments from the Queen’s seventy-year reign. The two and a half-hour show will see musical performances from the likes of Queen and Adam Lambert, Sir Elton John, and Diana Ross, as well as appearances from Sir David Attenborough and Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show will be broadcasted live on the BBC presenting a perfect opportunity to invite friends and family for a celebratory viewing party.
7. Take part in the Platinum Jubilee Creative Challenge
As part of the official Jubilee celebrations, HM’s government have launched a Platinum Jubilee Creative Challenge encouraging participants to design a Jubilee crown to wear across the weekend. This is a great opportunity to get children involved in the Jubilee celebrations.
Simply visit the Jubilee website to download your free template and get decorating! Showcase your creations on social media using the hashtag #PlatinumJubilee or send them via email to creativechallenge@dcms.gov.uk for a chance to be featured on the official Jubilee website!
8. Plant a tree for the Jubilee
The Queen’s Green Canopy is an initiative created as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Throughout the entirety of this year, people are encouraged to plant a tree as a way of giving back to the environment. All the information you need is available on the website including how to acquire a tree, where to plant it and how to look after it.
Whether you’re a gardening novice or a green-fingered pro, planting a tree is an excellent way to commemorate the Jubilee and a fun long-lasting project for the whole family.
9. Have fun with some arts and crafts and design your own Jubilee medal
As is tradition with royal Jubilees, to mark the occasion, frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prisons, and the Armed Forces will be awarded a special commemorative medal. This is a great opportunity to get the kids involved in the celebrations through arts and crafts.
Download and print a free template online, or create your own and get stuck in with your favourite materials. This is not only a family-friendly activity but also a chance to teach children about the work that our frontline workers do.
10. Host a Jubilee BBQ (with games)
We’ve got our fingers crossed for sunshine over the Jubilee weekend and if it makes an appearance then what better way to enjoy it then with a BBQ. Give your BBQ a Jubilee makeover with decorations and themed food and drinks. You might even turn the occasion into a fun bake-off style competition, encouraging attendees to try their hand at a signature pudding.
Work up an appetite with some good old fashioned British games like bean bag toss or hopscotch for a day full of Jubilee fun.
