Time to pack your Union Jacks and book the plane tickets!
Only one other British monarch has reigned longer that the current regent. (Queen Victoria enjoyed hearing 'Vivat Regina!' for sixty-three years.)
It may not be a record-breaker but it is a perfect excuse for a grand celebration and a great vacation.
Technically, Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary has already celebrated this monumental anniversary.
The queen became the reigning monarch of Great Britain and the Commonwealth when her father died on February 6, 1952.
What the hay! June in England is just a better month for a party.
Yearlong Celebration
Beginning in March, the Queen will be visiting many different areas of the United Kingdom to personally receive thanks and good wishes for her six decades of public service.
There will also be numerous overseas tours by the Queen and other senior members of the royal family to mark this historic milestone.
For royal lovers, the main thrust of the celebrations will be observed from June 2-5.
Jubilee Weekend
The first official public appearance by the Queen for the weekend festivities will be on June 2 at the Epsom Derby (pronounced "darby" if you please). Reasonable seats for the event start at twenty-five pounds sterling and can be booked online. Ladies, don't forget your hats!
The Thames Jubilee Pageant on Saturday June 3 will feature over one thousand floating vessels from around the world. The Queen will lead the seven mile waterway procession on the Royal Barge. The afternoon party will also feature daytime fireworks, music barges, and will be telecast on large outdoor screens. The afternoon flotilla will be followed by a fun fair featuring food and games.
According to an article in the Mirror, Pageant Master Adrian Evans remarked, "We're planning for well over a million people to congregate on the Thames bridges, on balconies and riverside properties and the river's edge to watch the pageant and salute the Queen, resplendent on the Thames in her glittering royal barge.”
On Monday June 4, the BBC is sponsoring the Concert at Buckingham Palace. The A-list roster of musical performers has yet to be announced. Ticketed seats are only available for purchase by British citizens but the event will be televised and the show will be simulcast on large outdoor screens in Green Park (next to the Palace).
Royal watchers who enjoy the full spectacle of the Queen's military parade regiments and the display of historic state coaches will not want to miss the carriage procession to St. Paul's Cathedral for the official Service of Thanksgiving. The church service is closed to the public but will be broadcast on television and jumbo screens.
While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed a scaled-down celebration for their marriage in April 2011, it will be full-on royal pomp and circumstance for this historic occasion.
Tourism Impact
In an article published online on December 22, 2011, the Hindustan Times reported that the national tourism office for the UK is predicting that 30 million tourists will visit Britain in 2012 and spend around 32 billion dollars.
“While these figures are in line with expected numbers in 2011 (numbers which have not yet been released), maintaining current visitor levels would be a good outcome in a year that is proving difficult to predict due to the current global economic climate and the impact this may have in many of our key markets”, according to Visit Britain’s Chief Executive Sandie Dawe.
The tourism bureau also released 2010 statistics which reveal that 2.7 million Americans visited the UK during the year and spent $3.2 billion dollars. The data confirms that Britain remains Americans’ favorite long-haul destination.
Teresa Wentz - Teresa Wentz holds a Master of Media Arts degree from the University of South Carolina. She has worked in various fields in the film ...
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