This month, we celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years since her ascension to the throne.

Celebrations have already been ongoing for the past year, their culmination is to take place later this week with an upcoming four-day holiday full of pageantry and pomp across the UK.

The Queen’s annual birthday parade will kick off the festivities on Thursday, the 2nd of June. Over 1,200 soldiers and officers are expected to participate. 

For over 260 years, the British sovereign’s birthday has been celebrated a pompous style. This year, the 1st Battalion and the Irish Guards will be joined by 240 horsed and hundreds of army musicians. 

A three-kilometre parade route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace will be initiated with the chiming of the bells at the church in front of 10,000 parade participants who will act out the story of the Queen’s reign as they travel the route.

Festivities are to be shown live on TV and large screens have also been erected in St. James’ Park. Once the parade will have ended and the procession will have returned to the palace, the Royal Family is expected to make a balcony appearance, in accordance with the custom. 

Prince Harry and Megan Markle will not make an appearance on the balcony similar to the Queen’s embattled son Prince Andrew. It is because only working royals have been invited to stand on the balcony this year. 

There will be numerous other activities for this special occasion, including the Derby at Epsom Down, a Platinum Party at the Palace, a Big Jubilee Lunch, and a Platinum Jubilee Pageant, among others. 

Image: Twitter @northerntrack