Millions of people will celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee in Britain as the monarch marks 60 years on the throne in the knowledge that the royal family has never been more popular. The celebrations reach a climax over four days from June 2 to June 5 with a 1,000-boat river pageant on the Thames, a concert featuring some of pop’s biggest names and the pomp and splendour of a ceremonial parade. Britons have been granted an unusual two-day public holiday after the weekend to mark a truly historic occasion — the queen is only the second British monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee, after queen Victoria. One million people are expected to line the Thames to see the pageant on June 3, with the queen’s ceremonial barge at the centre of a water-borne extravaganza of steam boats and tugs, speed boats and historic vessels. A chain of beacons will be lit across the globe the following day, culminating with the queen lighting the national beacon on a stage in front of Buckingham Palace where Paul McCartney is among the stars performing in her honour. There will also be more informal celebrations up and down the country as people hold street parties in a bid to recreate the spirit of the silver jublilee in 1977.
