News

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Weekend

More details here: http://www.britroyals.com/jubilee.htm

Diamond Jubilee Week – 2nd to 5th June
Official celebrations for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will take place in a special Diamond Jubilee week between Saturday 2nd June and Tuesday 5th June 2012.
Saturday 2nd June: The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby. She is a keen horse racing fan and has been attending the Epsom Derby for eight decades.
Sunday 3rd June: The Big Jubilee Lunch. People will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Monday 4th June: A televised Diamond Jubilee Concert held at Buckingham Palace, with tickets available to UK residents by public ballot.
Monday 4th June: 2,012 beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth.
Tuesday 5th June: A Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession. The service will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral, with a formal carriage procession by The Queen.
Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant
The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant takes place on Sunday 3rd June 2012. The Pageant is one of the main celebrations being held to mark the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
1,000 boats, from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world, will sail down the River Thames. The Queen will lead the flotilla in the Royal Barge reviving a tradition that dates back over 400 years. The organisers plan to create a piece of theatre on the water, incorporating music, fireworks and special effects.
The Royal Barge decorated in red and gold and featuring The Queen’s cipher and a crown will carry The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, along with other members of the Royal Family. The Prince of Wales has been announced as Patron of the Pageant.

A Manx Viking longship is currently en route to London to represent the Isle of Man in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
A local crew will row the replica longship from Battersea Bridge to Tower Bridge from 2pm on Sunday as part of a 1,000-strong flotilla to celebrate Her Majesty’s 60-year reign.
The crew – which comprises Jimmy Lee, William Macleod, Dave Richards, Alan Kneen, Nigel Rawlinson, Martin Kelly, John Ritson, Alan Capon, Chris Watterson, Peter Morgan, Andrew Mulhern and Stephen Kelly – will be in the manpowered craft section at the head of the flotilla.

Participation in the Thames Pageant is a key part of the Island’s involvement in events taking place across the Commonwealth to honour The Queen, who is the Manx Head of State and Lord of Mann. (Rest of article here: http://www.isleofman.com/News/article.aspx?article=45760)

Remember: the Pageant stamps for IOM Post Office will be carried on each of these boats.