The Queen is set to send Royal Family members across the United Kingdom as she prepares to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to visit Wales while Princess Anne will head to Scotland.
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie will go to Northern Ireland as festivities kick off this Thursday (June 2) until Sunday (June 5), marking Queen Elizabeth II's record-breaking reign. It comes as millions across the country are set to celebrate the Jubilee, reports The Mirror.
William and Kate will not attend the Epsom Derby on Saturday but will instead visit Cardiff Castle. The trip is before the Buckingham Palace concert that evening featuring acts such as Queen and Diana Ross.
The Duke and Duchess will meet stars such as Bonnie Tyler and Owain Wyn Evans as well as the crew involved in the special Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert taking place in the castle grounds. Hosted by Aled Jones and Shan Cothi, the gig features performances from some of Wales’ best-known singers and entertainers, alongside choirs, bands and orchestras.
The Queen, 96, who is a huge horse racing fan, is understood to be a doubt for the Derby and will pace herself ahead of the People’s Pageant in central London on Sunday. A royal source said: “It is important for the family to get out to see as many people as possible as part of the jubilee celebrations which will hopefully be enjoyed by millions across the country.”
The pageant will bring the weekend to a close with a rousing finale featuring singer Ed Sheeran. The Mirror previously revealed how Her Majesty plans to appear twice on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
It includes the end of the pageant as Sheeran belts out the national anthem. Royal sources said the Queen wanted to “take the opportunity to thank the public” and will be joined by a small group of her family.
They will include her heirs, Princes Charles, William and George, eight. Princess Anne will represent the monarch at the Derby after returning from Scotland on Friday where she and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will visit Edinburgh Zoo.
The Princess Royal will also make a stop onboard HMS Albion to thank Royal Navy personnel for their efforts. Prince Edward, 58, and Sophie, 57, will travel to Northern Ireland on Saturday to meet children taking part in multicultural street performances.
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are to remain in London, where they will attend a lunch at the Oval cricket ground on Sunday. Edward and Sophie will also join a gathering at Windsor as part of the Big Jubilee Lunch.
The celebrations will begin with the return of Trooping the Colour. It emerged 300 cyclists riding bikes – including a tandem chopper, BMXs and a 1960s road racing bike – from the seven decades of the Queen’s reign will travel down the Mall.
The peloton will be led by Sir Chris Hoy and cycling golden couple Dame Laura and Sir Jason Kenny. They will be among six “hero cyclists” who will race towards Buckingham Palace on Sunday. Strictly Come Dancing professionals will be joining the pack on a pedal-driven vehicle.
A cast of 6,000 people are to take part in the £15million pageant, spanning 3km. Some 205 vehicles will join in, including Land Rovers, James Bond vehicles and Del-Boy’s three-wheeler. The pageant is split into four acts and will feature a military parade, culture and fashion of the last 70 years, carnival creations of the Queen’s life and the Happy and Glorious musical.
