The Platinum Jubilee is particularly significant, as the queen is the first British monarch to achieve a 70-year reign. So, what can we expect on the special occasion?

For Britons, it means a four-day public holiday

That weekend will consist of: the queen’s birthday parade (known as Trooping the Colour) on June 2, a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 3, a Platinum Party at the Palace and The Derby at Epsom Downs on June 4, and a Platinum Jubilee Pageant and Big Jubilee Lunch on June 5.

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Trooping the Colour, the queen’s birthday parade, is to begin at London’s Buckingham Palace and will move down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade. It will include more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, according to the official website. The parade has not been held in this capacity since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

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At the Platinum Party, some of the “world’s biggest entertainers” will perform at a concert at Buckingham Palace which will be broadcast by the BBC. The performers have not yet been confirmed.

The queen’s health casts a shadow

The queen has celebrated four previous jubilees.

In 1977, she marked 25 years on the throne with her Silver Jubilee; in 2002 she celebrated 50 years with her Golden Jubilee; the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 marked 60 years; and her most recent jubilee, the Sapphire Jubilee in 2017, marked 65 years.

This year’s events may be different to previous jubilees, however, due to the queen’s health. According to Hello! magazine, the monarch is expected to travel by car to the Service of Thanksgiving on June 3 instead of by coach, which is tradition, “to ensure her comfort”.

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She is due to arrive at the service, which takes place at St Paul’s Cathedral, by a different door than in previous occasions to avoid a steep flight of stairs, a spokesperson for the palace told the outlet.

On May 9, Buckingham Palace said that after consulting her doctors the 96-year-old monarch has decided to miss the State Opening of Parliament due to “episodic mobility problems”.

The queen has been photographed using a walking stick in recent months, and in February she tested positive for Covid-19.

During a virtual engagement in April, the queen spoke to people who had previously contracted the virus. While she didn’t comment on her personal experience, she did say it can leave “one very tired and exhausted”.