Department for Culture Media and Sport
To mark 60 years of the Queen’s reign the Diamond Jubilee will take place in 2012. The celebrations will centre around the first week in June 2012.
We are the department responsible for co-ordinating the Government response for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Buckingham Palace will be co-ordinating the Queen’s programme for the Diamond Jubilee.
When will the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee take place?
The Diamond Jubilee will take place in 2012. This will mark 60 years of the Queen’s reign. The Queen came to the throne on 6 February 1952 (her Coronation took place on 2 June 1953).
How many Jubilees has the Queen celebrated?
The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897.
When will the celebrations take place?
The celebrations will centre around the first week in June. The Government has announced its plans for a special four-day Jubilee weekend which would allow communities time to come together to celebrate and commemorate the events of the last 60 years. This will entail putting back the late May bank holiday to Monday 4 June and adding an additional Jubilee bank holiday on Tuesday 5 June.
Detailed plans for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 will be announced closer to the time.
What about Scotland?
First Minister Alex Salmond confirmed on 18 March that the extra holiday on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 would also apply to Scotland, and that the traditional late May Bank Holiday would be moved to Monday, June 4, 2012, providing for a four-day weekend to celebrate Her Majesty's 60 years on the throne.
How will schools be affected by the extra bank holiday?
We are working closely with colleagues from the Department for Education with regards to the practicalities of the effect an extra bank holiday will have on schools. The regulations on the length of the school year for 2011/2012 are currently being revised so school children and teachers can benefit from the extra bank holiday.
Who is responsible for organising the Jubilee celebrations?
A programme of events centred around the Jubilee Weekend in June will be organised by Buckingham Palace. Within Government, as for the Golden Jubilee in 2002, we are responsible for co-ordinating the Government led aspects of the celebrations.
Will there be a Jubilee medal?
A medal will be issued to mark the Diamond Jubilee.
Who will receive the Jubilee medal?
This is under consideration. Further details will be released nearer the time.
How do I nominate my town to become a city?
The application will need to be made by the town’s local authority. Further details will be released when the competitions are launched later in the year.
Who will be eligible to apply for the Lord Mayoralty/Lord Provostship competition?
Only existing cities can apply for Lord Mayoralty (Lord Provostship in Scotland). Further details will be released when the competitions are launched later in the year. Lord Mayoralty/Lord Provostship is granted by the Queen under the Royal prerogative, on Ministerial advice.
What does Royal Borough status mean?
Royal Borough status is purely honorific and granted by the Sovereign on Ministerial advice as an exceptional mark of Royal favour. It confers no additional funding or powers.
Why is Greenwich getting Royal Borough status?
The Queen has agreed to confer the honour on Ministerial advice to mark the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, in recognition of the very close links between Greenwich and the Monarchy as well as Greenwich’s global significance.
What other Royal Boroughs are there?
Only three:
When was Royal Borough status last granted?
In England, in 1927, to the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. In Wales, Caernarvon (then a Borough) was made a Royal Borough in 1963 - it has since become the Royal Town of Caernarvon.
What steps are the Government taking to stage a special horse race to mark the Diamond Jubilee in 2012?
The British horseracing industry is considering ideas to celebrate this great event. These include a special new race, themed race meetings across the UK or moving the Derby - which will coincide with the 2012 Diamond Jubilee weekend - to one of the Jubilee Bank holidays.
For further information or if you have any questions, please email us at diamondjubilee@culture.gsi.gov.uk.