What's taking place over queen's platinum jubilee bank holiday weekend?

From puddings to parties, it will be a historic royal celebration

Queen Elizabeth at the 2021 Trooping the Colour parade. The year has been one of loss and sorrow for the British monarch, capped by the cancelled plans for an extended family lunch to celebrate Christmas at Windsor Castle. All photos: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth recording the video message broadcast to attendees at an evening reception to mark the opening day of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow on November 1, 2021.

Queen Elizabeth attends the Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse in October.

The British monarch on a screen via video link from Windsor Castle during a virtual audience at Buckingham Palace in October.

Children from Crathie Primary School present Queen Elizabeth with a card at the Balmoral Estate in October, where she and Prince Charles planted a tree to mark the start of the official planting season for the Queen's Green Canopy, near Crathie, Scotland.

The queen during an inspection in August of Balaklava Company, 5 Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral as she takes up summer residence at the castle.

Actors wait to meet Queen Elizabeth during a visit to the set of the long-running television series 'Coronation Street' in July in Manchester.

Queen Elizabeth receives the Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany during an audience at Windsor Castle in July.

Queen Elizabeth greets Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the first in-person weekly audience with the prime minister since the start of the coronavirus pandemic at Buckingham Palace in June.

Queen Elizabeth with US President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, the first lady, in the Grand Corridor during their visit to Windsor Castle in June.

Queen Elizabeth attends a military ceremony in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle to mark her official birthday in June.

Queen Elizbeth with world leaders at The Eden Project during the G7 Summit in June in St Austell, Cornwall.

Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive for a reception at The Eden Project during the G7 Summit in June.

Queen Elizabeth, escorted by Prince Charles, follows the imperial state crown along the royal gallery during the state opening of Parliament at the House of Lords in May.

Capt Angus Essenhigh, Queen Elizabeth and Commodore Steve Moorhouse during a visit to 'HMS Queen Elizabeth' before the ship's maiden deployment in May in Portsmouth.

Queen Elizabeth watches pallbearers carry the coffin of her late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, into St George’s Chapel during the funeral at Windsor Castle in April.

Pallbearers with the coffin of Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in April.

Queen Elizabeth signs her annual Commonwealth Day Message in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle to mark Commonwealth Day in March.

Buckingham Palace is embarking on a full programme of events — from street parties and a star-studded concert to a new pudding recipe — to mark Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee.

Jubilee celebrations are culminating in a four-day UK bank holiday weekend, which lasts from Thursday to Sunday.

Official jubilee celebrations began in January when Fortnum & Mason launched the platinum pudding competition to find a dish to dedicate to the queen's 70 years on the throne. The winning recipe was created Jemma Melvin with her lemon Swiss roll topped with an amaretti trifle.

The Sandringham and Balmoral estates will be open for visitors to enjoy the celebrations across the long weekend.

Performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers will tell the story of the queen's reign in the platinum jubilee pageant, which will see a River Of Hope — made up of 200 silk flags — make its way along The Mall, outside Buckingham Palace.

It is not clear which events the queen will attend as she was ordered to rest by doctors in October last year after an overnight stay in hospital for unspecified preliminary investigations.

The bulk of the jubilee duties are likely to be divided among the rest of Britain's royal family, including the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

Here are all of the events taking place over the jubilee bank holiday weekend:

Bank holiday, June 2: Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour)

A display of horsemanship and military precision on Horse Guards Parade by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards and more than 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division.

Sandringham and Balmoral will be open to visitors to enjoy the celebrations during the bank holiday.

Platinum jubilee beacons

Britain will lead the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories in lighting beacons to mark the occasion. The principal beacon will be lit in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

June 3: Service of thanksgiving

A service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

June 4: Platinum party at the palace

Some of the world’s greatest entertainers are billed to perform at the concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the queen’s reign.

June 5: Big jubilee lunch

Street parties are being planned across the UK and neighbours are expected to join together for food and fun to celebrate the platinum jubilee. It will mark the end of the bank holiday.

Platinum jubilee pageant

Performers will come together in London to tell the story of Queen Elizabeth’s reign through a pageant that will include a River of Hope section, made up of 200 silk flags, that will make its way through The Mall, resembling the flow of a river.

July: The Royal Collection Trust

Three displays marking her accession as a princess to the throne, her coronation and jubilees will be staged at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.