HL Deb 29 January 2002 vol 631 cc30-6WA
Lord Gregson

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have for celebrating the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's Accession to the Throne. [HL2548]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

I welcome this opportunity, on behalf of the whole nation, to offer the warmest congratulations to The Queen on the 50th anniversary of her Accession and to express gratitude for half a century of devoted service to the people of the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister announced on 23 November 2000 (Official Report, col. 294W) that Her Majesty will attend a National Thanksgiving Service in St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday 4 June 2002. That day will be a Bank Holiday in place of the Spring Bank Holiday, which would otherwise fall on 27 May. Monday 3 June will be an additional Bank Holiday for the Golden Jubilee.

On 22 June 2001 (Official Report, col. 7W) the Prime Minister announced the main features of The Queen's United Kingdom programme of Golden Jubilee visits and on 3 August my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced in a news release the main celebrations planned in central London over the Golden Jubilee weekend of 1 to 4 June 2002.

I am pleased to be able to announce the programme of visits and other events throughout the United Kingdom from May to August this year which will be undertaken by Her Majesty and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to mark the Golden Jubilee.

As the Prime Minister announced on 22 June 2001, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will be travelling as widely as possible around the United Kingdom during this year, including visits to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although they will not be able to visit all cities and counties. However, their itinerary will enable them to meet as many people as possible throughout the country.

The programme is as follows:

29 April

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend a dinner at No. 10 Downing Street.

30 April

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend a session of the Joint Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall at which Her Majesty will address both Houses.

SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND (CORNWALL, DEVON, SOMERSET AND BATH)

1 May

Falmouth; Trelissick; Truro; Exeter.

2 May

Taunton; Wells; Bath.

NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND (TYNE AND WEAR AND COUNTY DURHAM)

7 May

Sunderland; Gateshead; Newcastle.

8 May

Durham; Darlington; Stockton (The Duke of Edinburgh).

9 May

East London.

SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND (BUCKINGHAMSHIRE AND BERKSHIRE)

10 May

Aylesbury; Marlow; Bisham Abbey

16–17 May

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

18 May

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will take the Salute at "All The Queen's Horses", Royal Windsor Horse Show.

20 May

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the Chelsea Flower Show.

21 May

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will open the new Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

22 May

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend an Arts Reception at the Royal Academy, London.

SCOTLAND

23 May

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend a Scottish Service of Thanksgiving at Glasgow Cathedral.

24 May

Falkirk; Edinburgh (including a reception in the Palace of Holyroodhouse).

25 May

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will open the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Edinburgh; The Queen will also host a Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

26 May

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend the General Assembly Service, St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh.

27 May

Isle of Skye; Isle of Lewis; Wick.

28 May

Aberdeen (including a visit to the Scottish Parliament, sitting at King's College Conference Centre, Aberdeen University); Dundee.

29 May

Lauder, Melrose.

JUBILEE WEEKEND

1 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will host The Queen's Concert (classical concert) in the gardens at Buckingham Palace.

2 June

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend a Jubilee Church Service, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

3 June

Windsor and Slough.

3 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will host The Queen's Concert (pop concert) in the gardens at Buckingham Palace, after which Her Majesty will light a national beacon in the Mall and view a fireworks display.

4 June

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, after a ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace.

4 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend a lunch hosted by the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of London at Guildhall in the City of London.

4 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the Golden Jubilee Festival in the Mall.

4 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will make a balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace and watch a Royal Air Force fly past.

6 June

North London, followed by a garden party at Lambeth Palace.

SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND (WEST SUSSEX)

7 June

South of England Show, Ardingly.

10 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a reception for representatives of different faiths at Buckingham Palace.

WALES

11 June

Anglesey, Colwyn Bay.

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend a Welsh Service of Thanksgiving at Bangor Cathedral.

12 June

Dolau; Llanelli; Margam Park.

13 June

Bridgend; Rhondda Valley; Newport; Cardiff (including a visit to the National Assembly for Wales).

15 June

The Queen. accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will take the Salute at Her Majesty's Birthday Parade, Horseguards.

17 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the Service of the Order of the Garter at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

17 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a dinner for European sovereigns, Windsor Castle.

18–22 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend Royal Ascot.

25 June

West London.

26 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a dinner for representatives of the Armed Forces, Windsor Castle.

27 June

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will visit the Armed Forces, Portsmouth, and visit Portsmouth.

WEST MIDLANDS (WEST MIDLANDS, STAFFORDSHIRE AND WARWICKSHIRE)

2 July

Solihull; Birmingham.

3 July

Burton upon Trent; Stoneleigh.

4 July

South London.

5 July

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend a parade in the gardens of Buckingham Palace for all Her Majesty's Body Guards and the In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

9 July

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will present medals to the winners of The Queen's Golden Jubilee Poetry Competition for Schools at Buckingham Palace.

9 July

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a garden party in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, when guests will include those born on Accession Day.

YORKSHIRE (WEST YORKSHIRE AND THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE)

11 July

Leeds; Wakefield (The Duke of Edinburgh); Bradford (The Duke of Edinburgh); Harewood House (Festival).

12 July Beverley.

16 July

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a garden party in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, when guests will include young people born since the 1977 Silver Jubilee.

EAST ANGLIA (SUFFOLK AND NORFOLK)

17 July

Ipswich; Stowmarket; Bury St Edmunds.

18 July

Great Yarmouth (The Duke of Edinburgh); Norwich

18 July

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a garden party for Norfolk at Sandringham House.

23 July

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will open the new Greater London Authority building.

23 July

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend a gala at Covent Garden.

NORTH WEST OF ENGLAND (CHESHIRE, GREATER MANCHESTER, MERSEYSIDE AND OPENING THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN MANCHESTER)

24 July

Macclesfield; Greater Manchester.

25 July

Liverpool; open Commonwealth Games, Greater Manchester.

26 July

Visit Commonwealth Games venues, Greater Manchester.

30 July

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a garden party in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, when guests will include representatives of charities of which Her Majesty and His Royal Highness are patron.

EAST MIDLANDS (LINCOLNSHIRE, DERBYSHIRE, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND LEICESTERSHIRE)

31 July

Scunthorpe; Nottingham

1 August

Leicester; Derby.

4 August

Close Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

NORTH WEST OF ENGLAND (LANCASHIRE AND CUMBRIA)

5 August Preston; Carlisle.

5 August

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the Edinburgh Tattoo, Edinburgh Castle.

7 August

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a garden party at Balmoral Castle.

These details, together with further information about other confirmed Golden Jubilee celebrations and events can be found on the searchable calendar of events being launched today on the official Golden Jubilee website at http://www.goldenjubilee.gov.uk/. The British Monarchy website at http://www.royal.gov.uk/ also has details of The Queen's programme and other royal engagements. These will be updated throughout the year as confirmation of events is received.