Queen’s platinum jubilee to be marked with extra bank holiday in 2022

Events held over four days will celebrate ‘historic milestone’ as 70 years on the throne

The Queen’s platinum jubilee, marking the monarch’s “historic milestone” of 70 years as head of state, is to be celebrated with an extra bank holiday in the summer of 2022, the culture secretary has announced.

Outlining plans to stage a series of events across the UK, Oliver Dowden said the country will hold a “celebration to remember” over a special bank holiday weekend from 2-5 June.

To create the four-day weekend, the government said the late May bank holiday in 2022 will be moved to Thursday 2 June and an additional bank holiday on Friday 3 June will be created.

On 6 February the same year the Queen will become the longest serving British monarch having been on the throne since the death of her father King George VI in 1952.

Buckingham Palace said the events will be an opportunity for the Queen to “express her thanks” to the country while the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport boasted of four days of events that will “mix the best of British ceremonial splendour and pageantry”.

Members of the royal family are also expected to participate in the celebrations and in keeping with tradition, a platinum jubilee medal will be awarded to people who work in public services,

The cabinet minister Mr Dowden added: “Her majesty’s platinum jubilee will be a truly historic moment – and one that deserves a celebration to remember.

“We can all look forward to a special, four-day jubilee weekend, when we will put on a spectacular, once-in-a-generation show that mixes the best of British ceremonial splendour with cutting edge art and technology. It will bring the entire nation and Commonwealth together in a fitting tribute to Her Majesty’s reign.”

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman added: “The platinum jubilee offers an opportunity for the Queen to express her thanks for the support and loyalty Her Majesty has received throughout her reign.

“The Queen hopes that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to join the celebrations.”