ROYAL REVELRY
2-5 JUNE
JUB I LEE THIS YEAR, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN CELEBRATES HER PLATINUM JUBILEE AFTER 70 YEARS ON THE THRONE. HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA OVER THE SPRING BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND, TO COMMEMORATE THIS MOMENTOUS ROYAL OCCASION!
A new exhibition at Imperial War Museum Duxford explores the role of the royal family in times of conflict, including the Queen’s personal experiences of living through war. From 27 May, visitors to the museum will be able to follow a trail of objects in the AirSpace hangar, that tell the story of British and Commonwealth aviation throughout the Queen’s reign. You’ll be able to get up close to aircraft used by the royal family for travelling the world, while recently digitised film footage from IWM’s archive provides a fascinating glimpse into how the Queen’s role as monarch has been shaped by her relationship with the armed forces. iwm.org.uk HOME FRONT (Above) Princess Elizabeth in front of an L-plated truck during her time in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) CONFLICT AND THE CROWN
Nothing says Jubilee quite like a street party, and after two years of staying indoors and avoiding the neighbours, now’s the time to reignite a sense of community in your local area! Get ready to roll out the bunting, prep the playlist and start sending invites well in advance – involve as much of your neighbourhood as possible. To find out what’s happening near you or register an event, visit cambridgeshire.gov.uk and search for ‘The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee’. STREETS AHEAD
The Queen’s Green Canopy is a national tree-planting initiative that commemorates the Jubilee in a way that will benefit future generations. Across the country, individuals and groups have committed to ‘Plant a tree for the Jubilee’. In Cambridgeshire, trees have been planted by Cambridge Past, Present and Future, IWM Duxford and famous faces such as James Cracknell OBE, who did so alongside his boat club teammates. Visit queensgreencanopy.org to find out more. GREEN SHOOTS Families with young children can look forward to quite a buzz at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden on 4 June; drop by the Schools Garden any time from 10am-1pm and make your very own queen bee creation, ready to parade the palatial gardens and discover its wealth of royal plants. botanic.cam.ac.uk QUEEN BEE
LEADING LIGHT
Beacon lighting ceremonies have long been used to celebrate royal weddings, coronations and jubilees. Recalling the beacon chains used in ages past as a tool of communication, the ceremony has become a symbol of unity across towns, borders, countries and continents. Various events are taking place across Cambridgeshire to launch the long Jubilee weekend on 2 June, including a ceremony at Cambridge Mound on Castle Hill. To find events, visit platinumjubilee.gov.uk.
ROYAL REPERTOIRE
At Great St Mary’s Church on 4 June, Eboracum Baroque celebrates the Jubilee with a majestic programme featuring Handel’s four coronation anthems, originally composed for George II in 1727. “Handel’s coronation anthems are glorious – perfect to celebrate the Jubilee,” says director Chris Parsons. “It’s for choir and orchestra – an incredible sound when everyone is performing.” Visit eboracumbaroque.co.uk and book your tickets now.
In the run-up to the Jubilee weekend, we’ll be sharing tips over social media on everything frommaking your own bunting to preparing a fabulous feast fit for a queen. You can follow us by searching for @CambsEdition on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. IN THE LOOP
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