Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee events list: timings, map and schedule of celebrations

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her platinum jubilee in 2022, the first British monarch to reign for 70 years. Here 'The National' looks back at each of the years the queen has been on the throne. All photos: Getty Images

1952: A portrait of the queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

1953: The queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wave at the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London, after the queen's coronation, on June 2.

1954: The queen talking to an injured ex-serviceman during a visit to Repatriation General Hospital in Hobart, Australia.

1955: Gen Francisco Craveiro Lopes, President of Portugal, leaves Westminster Pier for Buckingham Palace by coach, with the queen.

1956: The queen inspects the Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment, at Kaduna Airport, Nigeria, during her Commonwealth tour.

1957: The queen presents the trophy to American tennis player Althea Gibson after she won the women's singles tennis title at Wimbledon.

1958: The queen shares a joke while watching Prince Philip during a cricket match at Highclere Castle, Hampshire.

1959: US president Dwight D Eisenhower with Prince Philip, Princess Anne, the queen, Prince Charles and John Eisenhower, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.

1960: The queen and Prince Charles walk through Liverpool Street Station in London with their dogs, having returned by train from Sandringham after the Christmas holidays.

1961: The queen and Prince Philip leave Manchester by train.

1962: The queen attends the races at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey.

1963: The queen waves to residents from the rear of an open top car in the town of Russell, during a Commonwealth visit to New Zealand.

1964: The queen during the State Opening of Parliament ceremony in the chamber of the House of Lords, at the Palace of Westminster in London.

1965: At the Tissisal Falls, where the Blue Nile begins, with Emperor Haile Selassie during a royal visit to Ethiopia.

1966: The queen smiling after presenting England captain Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy, following England's 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London.

1967: The queen meets actor Rex Harrison and his wife Rachel Roberts at the premiere of the film 'Dr Dolittle' at the Odeon Marble Arch, London.

1968: The queen, Princess Margaret, and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, riding at Ascot Racecourse.

1969: The royal family at Windsor: Prince Edward, the queen, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.

1970: US president Richard Nixon and British prime minister Edward Heath meet the queen for lunch at Chequers.

1971: Prince Charles takes part in a polo match in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward.

1972: The queen and Prince Philip with the president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, during a visit to Kenya.

1973: Anne, the Princess Royal and Mark Phillips with the queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London after their wedding.

1974: The queen with the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London.

1975: The queen greets the public while visiting Greenwich, London.

1976: The queen looking relaxed standing next to her car.

1977: The crowd cheers the queen in her gilded state coach during her silver jubilee procession.

1978: The queen and Prince Philip are greeted by Native Canadians as they arrive by train during a tour of Canada.

1979: The queen is met by president Julius Nyerere at Dar es Salaam airport, at the start of a three-day state visit to Tanzania.

1980: On a tour of the Chelsea Flower Show, London.

1981: The Prince and Princess of Wales pose on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, with the queen.

1982: US president Ronald Reagan and the queen at a gala dinner at Windsor Castle.

1983: The queen and Prince Philip are met by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi and president Zail Singh at Palam Airport, New Delhi, during a Commonwealth tour of India.

1984: Prince Charles is presented with an award by his mother, after a polo match at Smiths Lawn in Windsor.

1985: The queen visits the University of Evora during a state visit to Portugal.

1986: The queen and Li Xiannian, president of China, outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during her visit to China.

1987: The queen with Prince William and Prince Harry in the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club, Smiths Lawn, Windsor.

1988: US president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan chatting with the queen at Buckingham Palace.

1989: The royal family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London for the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Pictured are Princess Margaret, Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

1990: The queen on a walkabout in Reykjavik, during a three-day state visit to Iceland.

1991: England captain Will Carling introduces the queen to the England team before the Rugby World Cup Final against Australia at Twickenham.

1992: The queen at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin during an official tour of Germany. She is seen with President Richard Von Weizsaecker.

1993: The queen walking through the crowds at Royal Ascot.

1994: The queen, Princess Anne, Prince Philip and Princess Diana greeting well-wishers as they attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

1995: The queen at a banquet in Cape Town, South Africa, with president Nelson Mandela.

1996: Germany captain Jurgen Klinsmann lifts the trophy as the queen smiles, after the 1996 UEFA European Championships Final against Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium in London.

1997: The queen and Prince Philip view tributes from the public outside Buckingham Palace to Diana, Princess of Wales, after her funeral.

1998: The queen shopping at the trade stands at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

1999: With British prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair during the Millennium New Year celebrations in Greenwich, London.

2000: The queen and Italy's president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi walk past the honour guard at the Piazza Di Siena in Rome.

2001: The queen and other members of the royal family appear with the Queen Mother during celebrations to mark her 101st birthday in London.

2002: The queen and Prince Philip leave after a party for close friends and family at The Ritz hotel in London. The monarch was thanking them for making her golden jubilee year a success.

2003: Russian President Vladimir Putin is accompanied by the queen during a procession at the start of his state visit in London.

2004: The queen arrives in her horsedrawn carriage to attend Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.

2005: Prince Charles and his bride, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pose with their families and the queen at Windsor Castle after their wedding ceremony.

2006: The queen smiles at the crowds in Windsor, during a walk in the town to celebrate her 80th Birthday.

2007: A less-than-impressed queen raises her hand during a downpour as she stands with Prince Philip and Prince Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

2008: The queen stands in the music room at Buckingham Palace after recording her Christmas day message to the Commonwealth.

2009: US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama with the queen and Prince Philip during an audience at Buckingham Palace.

2010: The queen and Prince Philip wear 3D glasses to watch a demonstration, during a visit to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

2011: The queen and Prince Philip arrive to open the Sainsbury Laboratory for Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden.

2012: The queen makes a speech at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London.

2013: The queen and other members of the royal family leave Westminster Abbey in London, after the service to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the coronation of the queen there.

2014: A smiling queen arrives for the opening of the Flanders Fields Memorial Garden at Wellington Barracks in London.

2015: The queen signs a book during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's 603 Squadron in Edinburgh, Scotland.

2016: Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Harry, the queen, and Prince Philip stand on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour, this year marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall.

2017: The queen and Prince Charles attend the State Opening Of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, London.

2018: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and the queen at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

2019: The queen and US president Donald Trump arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

2020: Riding at Windsor. The queen has been in residence at Windsor Castle during the coronavirus pandemic.

2021: The queen takes her seat at the funeral of Prince Philip, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II has now been the UK’s monarch for 70 years — the head of state for the UK and many of the Commonwealth countries.

She is the first British monarch to reach the 70-year milestone and a four-day holiday weekend has been filled to honour the occasion of the platinum jubilee, which begins in the UK on Thursday.

What are the official platinum jubilee events?

Trooping the Colour: The queen’s birthday parade will be held on Thursday at 11am. During the queen’s birthday parade, a royal gun salute will be fired.

When the royal party makes its traditional appearance on the balcony, a fly-past of planes from the queen’s rule will roar overhead.

Platinum jubilee beacons: The UK’s long tradition of celebrating royal milestones with the lighting of beacons will continue for the platinum jubilee.

The beacon chain, once used as a means of communication, is now a symbol of unity.

Workers add the final parts to the Tree of Trees sculpture, part of the Queen's Green Canopy Project. The sculpture, which will stand outside Buckingham Palace for the duration of the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations, consists of 350 native British trees planted in aluminium pots. Getty Images

Thomas Heatherwick, designer of the Tree of Trees sculpture, poses in front of Buckingham Palace. AFP

Royal superfan John Loughrey jumps for joy on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London, where he is already camped out for a prime position to view the platinum jubilee celebrations. PA

Model-maker Paula Young places a Lego replica of Queen Elizabeth II in a display replicating the royal balcony scene at Buckingham Palace for the Legoland platinum jubilee display in Windsor. PA

British Union flags are on display at Kirby Estate in London. EPA

The gold state coach passes the Houses of Parliament during an early morning rehearsal through London for Sunday's platinum jubilee pageant. PA

Workers hang bunting outside a hotel in central London. Reuters

Voyager and Rivet Joint aircraft perform in the sky for the queen's platinum jubilee fly-past rehearsal in Sleaford. EPA

A view from a cockpit during the rehearsal. PA

Royal Marines drummers play for residents of Church Hill near Birmingham. The nationwide celebrations will mark the 70th anniversary of the queen's accession to the throne. PA

The 15-kilogram Queen's Platinum Jubilee coin, made with fine gold, is the largest coin made by the Royal Mint, produced in celebration of her 70-year milestone. PA

Chelsea Pensioners Ted Fell, left, and George Reid pose as they view 'The Queen's Platinum Jubilee' display by Simon Lycett at Chelsea Flower Show in London. Reuters

Union flags are displayed along The Mall in London. AP

Fiona Baxter makes Union flags at the Flying Colours Flagmakers factory in Knaresborough. Getty Images

People stand underneath Union Jack flags hanging in Covent Garden, London. Reuters

Construction work at Buckingham Palace in London before Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee. EPA

A display paying homage to Queen Elizabeth II is shown outside the Sloane Club in London, as part of 'Chelsea in Bloom'. AP

One of eight London buses given a purple makeover to celebrate the jubilee makes its way across central London. PA

Jemma Melvin poses in Fortnum and Mason, central London, with her lemon Swiss roll trifle that beat 5,000 desserts to become the official pudding of the jubilee celebrations. PA

A man has his photograph taken next to a life-size cardboard cut-out of Queen Elizabeth II displayed in a shop in Windsor. Getty Images

Flags designed by British fashion illustrator Anjelica Roselyn on display across South Molton Street in Mayfair to celebrate the jubilee. PA

People pass a shop window display commemorating the platinum jubilee in Windsor. Getty Images

A knitted figure of the queen is displayed on top of a post box in Wallasey. Reuters

Temporary structures are built around Buckingham Palace for the celebrations. Reuters

Linda Bainbridge and Miyuki Griffin put finishing touches to The Crown, Orb and Sceptre exhibit as part of 'A Festival of Flowers' at Salisbury Cathedral. PA

A glittering banner stretches across Carnaby Street shopping district in London. EPA

Lewis Wilde from Selkirk tests a gas-fuelled beacon he has made to signal the start of the celebrations, which will culminate with a four-day bank holiday in June. PA

The gold state coach stands in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. The coach will be used as part of the jubilee celebrations. Getty Images

Union flags decorate a street Mayfair, London. EPA

Puppet-maker Louise Jones puts the finishing touches to her group of corgis, each based on past and present royal corgis, for the platinum jubilee pageant. AP Photo

Grounds staff change bedding plants outside Buckingham Palace. Getty Images

A member of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets holding the Commonwealth of Nations' Globe on its arrival at the Tower of London. It will be on display until June 2, when it will be used to light Buckingham Palace's principal beacon. PA

Power stilt artist Bouncy Bruce performs at the final unveiling of the platinum jubilee pageant at Bafta in London's West End. Reuters

Workers place a decorative crown at the top of a flag pole facing Buckingham Palace. Reuters

Abbey Marshall Leticia Edwards looks out at the view from the Henry VII roof of Westminster Abbey, which will be open to the public for the first time for guided tours, as part of its plans to celebrate the jubilee. PA

Members of the Household Cavalry during a musical ride rehearsal at Hyde Park in London for the Royal Windsor horse show, as part of the jubilee celebration. Reuters

A gardener sows seeds into the moat surrounding the Tower of London that will grow into a 'superbloom' display to celebrate the jubilee later this year. Reuters

Gilder Claire Wright applies gold paint by hand as she works to produce a platinum jubilee commemorative beaker for Goviers, as part of its Royal Commemoratives collection. AFP

Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment take part in the Maj Gen's Inspection in Hyde Park. The ceremonial unit must pass the inspection to take part in state duties. EPA

Service of thanksgiving: A service of thanksgiving takes place at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.

The Derby at Epsom Downs: Members of the royal family will attend the races in Epsom, south-east England, on Saturday.

Platinum party at the Palace: Some of the world’s biggest names join the musical tribute, performing to an audience of 22,000 people at Buckingham Palace.

The big jubilee lunch: More than 60,000 people have signed up to host lunches and street parties on Sunday. About 10 million people across the UK are expected to be joining the celebrations.

The platinum jubilee pageant: More than 5,000 people take part in the mix of theatre, street arts, music, circus and carnival.

Who are the longest serving monarchs?

In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne for by far the longest period, with 70 years and counting.

Behind her is Victoria on 63 years and George III with 59 years. Globally, Louis XIV, is out in front having ruled France from May 14, 1643 to September 1, 1715 — more than 72 years.

But the longest verifiable reign of any monarch, including states not internationally recognised, is Sobhuza II of Swaziland, a landlocked kingdom in southern Africa, now called Eswatini. He reigned from July 22, 1899, until August 21, 1982 — a regal record of 82 years and 254 days.

What else is happening?

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From street parties in every corner of the country to celebrations in world-famous buildings, there will be opportunities for everyone to enjoy the fun.

One of the most high-profile events is the Tower of London’s Superbloom, which has turned the moat into a field of flowers.

At Hampton Court Palace in west London, a joust is being held, reminiscent of some of the first royal jubilees.

London Zoo is staging a Zoobilee with outdoor gallery charting the royal links.

One week before the big four-day weekend more than 2,000 public events and 2,210 street parties or private events had been shared on the palace’s party website.

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