A London Councils Member briefing May 2012
Diamond Jubilee Weekend
2012 is the year of HM the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years of the The Queen’s reign. As part of celebrating the Diamond Jubilee the Queen has already visited Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Harrow on 29 March and Bromley, Merton and Richmond in South London on 15 May. This member briefing focuses specifically on borough preparations for the Diamond Jubilee weekend, 2 - 5 June 2012.
Overview The Queen came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and her coronation took place on 2 June London’s“ 1953. boroughs have been helping She celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002. prepare for To mark 60 years of HM The Queen’s reign Her Diamond Jubilee will be celebrated throughout the Jubilee - 2012. The main celebrations will centre around an extended weekend in 2012 on 2, 3 ,4 and 5 for example,
June. The bank holiday for HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be on Tuesday 5 June and to by granting communities form a long weekend of celebration the late May bank holiday will be moved to Monday 4 June. applications for over 2000 street“ A full programme of civic, celebratory and ceremonial events has been officially organised for parties the Diamond Jubilee weekend. Buckingham Palace is responsible for coordinating the events of the Diamond Jubilee central weekend, as well as for organising the Queen’s programme in her Diamond Jubilee year. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is the lead government department. The programme includes several elements, many of which have an impact on boroughs and for which London’s boroughs have been preparing - for example, by granting communities applications for more than 2000 street parties.
The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant
The Pageant will take place on the River Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world on Sunday 3 June. The Queen will lead the flotilla by travelling in the Royal Barge. This event is being organised by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation to celebrate Her Majesty’s 60-year reign, and will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river.
The Pageant is expected to measure 7.5 miles long from end to end. It will include a diverse mix of the historic and the modern: from rowed boats to sailing ships, steamers to wooden launches and larger motorised craft. BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace
On Monday 4 June, Buckingham Palace will host a televised Diamond Jubilee Concert, the tickets for which were available to UK residents by public ballot.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Beacons
In addition, on Monday 4 June a network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. As in 2002, the Queen will light the National Beacon, following the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace.
Service of Thanksgiving and carriage procession
Tuesday 5 June will see a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a formal carriage procession by the Queen, and other members of the Royal Family, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee.
Analysis The official events are mainly taking place within the City of Westminster. As such, Westminster has been heavily involved in the logistical planning for these events working with a multitude of partners including DCMS, Buckingham Palace, TfL, and the Metropolitan Police. Boroughs bordering the Thames have also been engaged with the planning for the Pageant, looking at ensuring crowd management and safety along the riverbank and on the bridges.
As well as the official public events, London’s 33 local authorities have also been inundated with applications from residents and businesses for permission to close their roads for street parties. Some of these street parties are being organised under the Big Lunch banner. 2012 is the fourth annual Big Lunch and was set to fall on the same weekend as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. As announced by Buckingham Palace, the Big Jubilee Lunch will be a part of the main programme of events over the central weekend of Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June 2012.
The Big Lunch is a simple idea originating from the Eden Project, an educational charity based in Cornwall. The aim is to encourage as many of the 61 million people in the UK as possible to have lunch with their neighbours for a few hours of community, friendship and fun. Councils across London have made it easier for people to host street parties by reducing red tape, simplifying the process and not charging for applications. London Councils has estimated that, with London boroughs support, there will be more than 2000 street parties across the weekend in London.
In addition. boroughs are also running or supporting larger scale community events to celebrate, including a 90,000 capacity event in Battersea Park. Commentary With the 2012 Games coming up and the Diamond Jubilee Weekend at the beginning of June, the eyes of the world are on London this summer. This gives London a wonderful opportunity to showcase everything great about our city and the UK. The Diamond Jubilee is also bringing communities together to celebrate which can cultivate greater community spirit and engagement including bringing people together of different The“ Jubilee generations and backgrounds to talk to one another, gain common ground, share stories and is bringing interests. communities
together, which
can cultivate community “ spirit Author: Anne-marie Pickup, principal policy officer (T: 020 7934 9756) Click here to send a comment or query to the author
Links: Big Jubilee Weekend website The Big Lunch website BBC guide to the Jubilee TfL Transport advice
This member briefing has been circulated to: Portfolio holders and those members who requested policy briefings in the following categories: culture, sport, tourism and 2012; crime and public protection; leadership, devolution and democracy
London Councils, 591/2 Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL www.londoncouncils.gov.uk