[ 2012-06-02 ]

Queen Elizabeth 11 - Diamond Jubilee: Final Preparations Under Way
Queen Elizabeth 11 Union jacks and bunting are
being put out across the UK, as final preparations
are made for the weekend's Diamond Jubilee
celebrations.

Earlier, a rehearsal of Tuesday's carriage
procession between Westminster Hall and Buckingham
Palace took place.

And crews of the 1,000-strong flotilla that will
escort the royal barge along the Thames on Sunday
were briefed.

Events are planned across the UK over the next
four days to mark 60 years since the Queen came to
the throne.

Last-minute preparations are under way for the
many street parties, outdoor concerts and fairs
being staged for the royal celebration:

The Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond marked the
start of celebrations with a 21-gun salute in
Portsmouth

The Woodland Trust released a list of 60 new,
large woodland areas designed to celebrate the
Queen's reign

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams issued
a video tribute to the Queen, praising her sense
of humour

Final preparations for the Jubilee concert got
under way, with a stage constructed on the roof of
Buckingham Palace, where pop band Madness will
perform their hit Our House

Services are running on nearly all London
Underground lines at the weekend but Transport for
London advises people to check before they travel

The weather forecast is expected to be poor for
the official celebrations in central London

In the early hours of Friday, members of the armed
forces and the Household Division were among the
2,000 servicemen and women rehearsing the carriage
procession - one of the final events of the
Jubilee celebrations.

The BBC's Daniela Relph said the full ceremonial
rehearsal had been a display of the pomp and
pageantry expected during the Jubilee
celebrations.

Soldiers rehearsed their three cheers for the
Queen and the national anthem was played, she
added.

Major Andrew Chatburn, the ceremonial officer for
the Household Division, said the rehearsal had
been 'spectacular'.

The state ceremonial training officer for the
Royal Navy, Warrant Officer Paul Barker, said it
had gone 'very well'.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will be joined by
the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall,
the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry
for Tuesday's event.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who will join the
royals for the celebratory events during the
weekend, paid tribute to the Queen's
'extraordinary energy' and 'devotion to her
people', in an interview with Sky News.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said the weekend's
festivities would celebrate 'everything that is
best about our country' and praised the Queen's
'selfless dedication to duty'.

Preparations have also been continuing for the
BBC's Jubilee concert, which will be held in front
of Buckingham Palace in the area surrounding the
Queen Victoria Memorial on Monday.

Artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton
John, Jessie J, JLS and Ed Sheeran are due to
perform.

The concert will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC
One HD and on BBC Radio 2 in the UK and to
millions around the world. - BBC

Source - BBC

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