UAE residents are celebrating Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 year reign with lunches and parties in Dubai and London alike, say UAE-based tourism officials.
Various local venues are joining in the festivities for The Diamond Jubilee, which marks 60 years of the Queen Elizabeth’s reign when she was crowned on 6 February 1952. While UAE residents may not be able to participate in the events coordinated by London’s Buckingham Palace during 2-5 June 2012, many local hotels and restaurants are organizing events and offering feasts fit for a queen.
“UAE nationals and expats alike can join in the festivities taking place around town in The Queen’s honour,” said Dubai-based Carol Maddison, UAE Manager of VisitBritain. “From the Grosvenor House in Dubai Marina to The Boston Bar in Jumeira Rotana to Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai residents can find menus inspired by the one served at the Queen’s coronation in 1952 as well as high tea and street party style celebrations.”
In London, kicking off the celebrations on Saturday 2 June, The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby, which dates back to 1780, and is still ranked the greatest flat race in the world. The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will see one thousand boats gather on the River Thames on Sunday 3 June, one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river, which will include rowed boats and working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes, with boats coming from all round the UK and also from many overseas countries.
Another centrepiece of the celebrations is The Diamond Jubilee Concert on Monday 4 June, organised by the BBC and attended by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family. The BBC and pop star Gary Barlow will bring together some of the biggest names from the worlds of music, dance and musical theatre including Shirley Bassey, Alfie Boe, Jools Holland, Jessie J, JLS, Elton John, Tom Jones, Lang Lang, Annie Lennox, Madness, Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue, Cliff Richard, Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder.
Finally, on 5 June, The Queen and other members of the Royal Family will attend a national service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral followed by a Diamond Jubilee lunch at Westminster Hall, to be given for The Queen by the Livery. Afterward, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry of Wales will travel by carriages from New Palace Yard and process up Whitehall, to Trafalgar Square, through Admiralty Arch and down the Mall, through the Centre Gates at Buckingham Palace. The Queen and Prince Philip will be using the 1902 State Landau in this procession. |