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Top 5 Jubilee Weekend MUST-SEE Moments
In celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year, we’re taking part in a truly historic moment.
And with so many festivities going on, I’ve put together a countdown of the TOP 5 weird and wonderful must-see moments this Platinum Jubilee weekend.
Now, you may have already tried your hand at recreating the Fortnum and Mason Official Platinum Jubilee pudding — a Lemon Swiss Roll and Amaretti Trifle, chosen by Dame Mary Berry herself!
Or perhaps you’ve heard about the 3 second sell-out of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Barbie Doll?
Well, it doesn’t stop there. Up and down the country, formal and informal celebrations will be taking place. Here’s a countdown of my top 5 must-see moments:
5. Trooping the Colour, Thursday 2nd June
In just over a week’s time, more than 850 soldiers, 200 horses and 300 musicians will come together for the traditional parade to mark The Queen’s Official Birthday. This will be the first time since 2019 that the occasion of pageantry, fanfares and drumbeats can go ahead in its full splendour.
The colour being trooped this year is that of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, with soldiers making their way from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade.
4. The Epsom Derby, Friday 3rd – Saturday 4th June
Continuing her lifelong relationship with the world’s greatest flat race, The Epsom Derby, this year the Queen has entered three of her horses in the derby as she attempts to win the prestigious horse race for the first time.
With a touch of carnival, this one’s for everyone — from racing royalty to racing rookies.
3. The United Kingdom and Commonwealth Illuminated, Thursday 2nd June
On the evening of 2nd June, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth will be illuminated by a blaze of light when more than 1,500 beacons are ignited in towns, villages and cities throughout Britain, the British Isles and the UK’s overseas territories, as well as the capital cities of Commonwealth countries.
This tradition dates back hundreds of years, celebrating royal weddings, jubilees, and coronations and has since become a symbol of unity across borders.
2. Platinum Party at the Palace, Saturday 4th June
This promises to be an occasion to remember, playing a central part in a weekend of pomp and parties.
A star-studded line-up of artists, bands, and entertainers from across music, film and theatre are set to give you the show of a lifetime.
The event will take place at Buckingham Palace and be broadcast live on the BBC.
1. The Big Jubilee Lunch, Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th June
Inspiring community spirit across the nation, the initiative offers the opportunity to share food, friendship, and frivolity with neighbours.
Thousands of people have signed up to host a lunch with street parties expected to match those which broke out spontaneously at the end of the Second World War.
And while you’re stocking up on supplies for your very own Big Jubilee Lunch, you may spot some subtle Platinum Jubilee tributes from our supermarket staples like Heinz’s Salad Queen (Salad Cream) and HM Sauce (HP Sauce).
So, it’s fair to say there’s enough to keep us busy over what promises to be one historic weekend in Great Britain.
And don’t forget, there’s still time to claim your FREE Platinum Jubilee Commemorative Souvenir.
With this Introductory Offer you’ll only pay £2.99 postage. It’s the perfect tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, 70 years our Queen.
JUST ANNOUNCED: The UK’s first Pride 50p!
A brand new 50p is being released by The Royal Mint to mark the 50th anniversary of Pride!
Back in December 2021, The Royal Proclamation announced plans for a Pride 50p, and today the first details of this coin’s release have been revealed — including the design!
The Design
Designed by LGBTQ+ activist Dominique Holmes, this new 50p design features five rainbows — each accompanied with part of the inscription, “PRIDE PROTEST VISIBILITY UNITY EQUALITY”. It’s scheduled for release this summer, coinciding with Pride celebrations across the country.
A Collecting First
Collecting firsts are without a doubt some of the most popular coins released. They become much harder to source in the coming years, often seeing sell-outs across whole ranges! And, as the FIRST ever 50p released in honour of Pride, this coin is likely to be incredibly popular with collectors.
The coin will be available in multiple specifications, including the standard Brilliant Uncirculated and the stunning colour Silver Proof, adding apt depth and vibrancy to the design. For the ultimate collector’s item, it’s also available in Gold Proof too.
High Demand Expected
As well as being the very first UK coin to commemorate Pride, this coin also marks the 50th anniversary of the first UK Pride march, held in London, 1972. Pride in London 2022 will pay tribute to this by retracing the historic 1972 route around London.
Pride in London now attracts a huge crowd, with 1.5 million walking in the 2019 procession, with hundreds of thousands more attending other Pride events across the UK.
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, this year’s Pride events are expected to be more popular than ever — and with so much interest in this year’s events, this UK-first 50p coin is expected to be in high demand.
If you want to ensure you don’t miss out on owning the very first UK Pride 50p, make sure you sign up below for updates on this coin’s release.
Gifting a Poppy Masterpiece
Each year, as many of you collectors may know, here at The Westminster Collection, we release a special Masterpiece coin in partnership with the Royal British Legion. A donation from the sales of our Poppy coins is made to the Royal British Legion, on your behalf.
2021 saw a special centenary year for the long-established charity, with many celebrations held, including the laying of a wreath at the Cenotaph by RBL National President Lieutenant General James Bashall CB CBE.
One such way we commemorated this important event was the gifting of our prized Remembrance Masterpiece Poppy Coin to D-Day veteran Jim Healy.
Jim is 97 and from Manchester – he was born in the Spring of 1925 and was called up to join the Armed Forces at the age of only 18. He served in the Royal Marines from May 1943 until August 1945, telling RBL he couldn’t even swim being a Manchester boy! His specific role was Coxswain of the Landing Craft Assault (LCA).
He landed on Juno Beach on D-Day 1944 and during his time in service, made several trips to land Canadian troops on the coast of Normandy. Describing one such trip he said, “I really admired these lads, I saw some wrecked craft, which must’ve copped a mine, but we were fortunate going in on a high tide, we avoided the mines in the water, going over the top of the obstacles.”
Jim is now a retired printer. He married his wife Marie at the age of 25 and they were married for 38 years, but she sadly passed 30 years ago. His brothers Tom and John also served in the Forces. Tom served in the Royal Air Force, and John worked in munitions.
With the Royal British Legion, Jim has been back to Normandy and took part in the D-Day 75 commemorations in northern France in the Summer of 2019. He has said “I’ve had a whole life before and since D-Day, and it’s only since the RBL started organising these trips that I’ve really started talking about those days.”
“…you’ve got in mind the lads you’ve lost – we lost ten of our boats and even mine was classified as lost, the family were told that I was missing in action, because our craft was disabled in the middle of the sea.”
Jim added “I still don’t know which of those soldiers we dropped off died and which ones survived, which is sad for me. I often think about them, we offer our condolences at various times each year and I know the Canadians suffered heavy losses on Juno Beach, but I never knew them really, which is quite hard.”
The Masterpiece which has been gifted to Jim is crafted from 1945 British Army Mess tins, a World War Two Spitfire and a D-Day Landing Craft, similar to the one piloted by Jim himself on June 6, 1944. Representing the three military facets of RBL, we have repurposed these important materials to create a three-dimensional ‘1921 style’ Poppy, which sits magnificently on the coin.
Jim has said “I’m very proud to receive this coin, it is a fitting reminder of my time in the Marines during World War Two and I am very grateful. I do get called a hero, but it is a word that’s over-used these days, even by my own family.”
We feel honoured that our 2021 Masterpiece Silver 5oz Poppy Coin has been gifted to Jim and what a fitting tribute that it’s one of our most historically fascinating pieces to have ever been released.
Our partnership, held since 2004, continues with the Royal British Legion who provide financial, social, and emotional support to members and veterans of the UK Armed Forces, their families and dependents.