London: Platinum Jubilee
The Jubilee celebration celebrates ten-year increments of the monarch’s reign in England. From June 2-5, 2022, Queen Elizabeth marked her Platinum Jubilee: 70 years on the throne.
In 2012, I was living near Windsor Castle for her Diamond Jubilee (60 years) and enjoyed the festivities then. The highlight was seeing the queen on the royal barge in a flotilla of boats along the Thames. She was just a speck from my view, but it was fun nonetheless. I made bunting and hung it on the window. Though I don’t sew, I found a way to use fabric glue and a flat iron around some twine to make bunting and hang it in the window.
I still have the bunting! It’s hanging in my kitchen now.
In 2022, I was fortunate enough to attend two events. This was actually quite a bit of luck as I had scheduled my flight to London in preparation for something else and had 24 hours to enjoy the city. It was only about a week before I left that I realized I would be there for the Jubilee! Some of my best travel experiences have happened through some kind of accident and embracing an unexpected opportunity.
Platinum Jubilee wreath in Leicester Square
Party at the Palace
On Saturday, the “Platinum Party at the Palace” took place in front of Buckingham Palace. It was a ticketed event awarded to something like 17,000 people. For the rest of us, it was broadcast on the BBC and on giant screens in St. James Park and the Mall. I got there early to enjoy the festive atmosphere in the park. There was a lot of excitement and Union Jack attire. I bought a flag with the Queen’s face on it. Brits know how to picnic properly – champagne, wicker baskets, etc. – even when it’s chilly out like that night. When the concert began, it was like a giant sing-a-long, The performers were a “who’s who” of British musicians. I particularly enjoyed George Ezra (a family favorite) and Diversity (who took us through a history of British pop). Jet lag kicked in and I decided to leave before the light show, so I caught that bit on the telly.
Platinum Pageant Parade
On Sunday, I went to Trafalgar Square to watch the Platinum Pageant. The parade started on Whitehall, went through Admiralty Arch, then ended at the palace. Even getting there an hour early, I could barely see anything. On a never-ending quest for the best perch, I ended up standing on the side of one of the fountains in Trafalgar and that gave me a slight vantage. The Queen’s golden coach (with projected images of her coronation) started the procession. That was followed by the military and scenes representing trends and milestones of the last 70 years. The remainder of the pageant creatively represented different aspects of the queen’s priorities. My favorites included the ode to Notting Hill Carnival, swans, and the “Thank You Dance” honoring NHS (National Health Service) workers.
Thank you, Ma’am!
