National Celebrations for the Queens Diamond Jubilee
Business Articles
Submit Articles Back to Articles
Issued 05 January 2010
An extra bank holiday will be part of the celebrations to mark Her Majesty’s
Diamond Jubilee in 2012, Lord Mandelson, President of the Privy Council,
announced today.
The Government is planning celebrations to mark this historic occasion which
include:
· An additional bank holiday in June 2012:
The holiday will involve moving the late May Bank Holiday to Monday 4 June
and adding an extra bank holiday on Tuesday 5 June to form a long
weekend of celebration.
· A Diamond Jubilee Medal:
In keeping with the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees, a Diamond Jubilee
medal will be issued to mark the occasion. This is currently under
consideration, including the likely recipients, and further details will be
announced in due course.
· A competition for civic honours:
A UK-wide competition for towns to bid for city status, launching in Spring
2010. The competition will include a Lord Mayoralty or Lord Provostship.
Lord President of the Privy Council, Lord Mandelson said:
“The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II will be a truly historic occasion.
“I know the entire country will want to pay their tributes to Her Majesty and
to look back with pride and great affection at the many things she has achieved
during her reign.
“This special Diamond Jubilee weekend will also be an opportunity to reflect
on the incredible changes that have taken place during that time, both at home
and around the world.”
In addition, the Queen has agreed to confer Royal Borough status on the
London Borough of Greenwich to mark the Jubilee. This rare honour is to be
bestowed in recognition of the close links between Greenwich and Royalty, from
the Middle Ages to the present day. It also acknowledges the Borough’s global
significance as the home of the Prime Meridian, Greenwich Mean Time and a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
Notes
1. A programme of events for the Jubilee Weekend in June will be organised by
Buckingham Palace. Further details will be announced nearer the time. Within
Government, as for the Golden Jubilee in 2002, the Department for Culture, Media
and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for co-ordinating the Government-led aspects of
the celebrations. Lord Mandelson is the lead Government Minister.
2. The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee in
2002. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen
Victoria in 1897.
3. The Golden Jubilee Medal was given to serving members of the regular and
reserve Armed Forces and Royal Fleet Auxiliary and cadet officers with a minimum
of 5 years reckonable service. It was also awarded, under the same qualifying
criteria, to members of the emergency services: the police, fire and ambulance
services, the Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the
Mountain Rescue service. Additionally, members of the Royal Household; and
living holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross received the Golden
Jubilee Medal. In 2005, it was decided to extend qualification to all
operational members of HM Prison Service with at least five years’ service.
4. Members of the public who want to find out more can visit the Diamond
Jubilee website at:
www.culture.gov.uk/diamondjubile e
5. Lord Mandelson was appointed Lord President of the Privy Council on 5 June
2009. In this role he presides at Privy Council meetings, including any
Emergency Privy Councils; considers for approval a number of Statutory Orders
concerning Health Care, Veterinary, and Scottish Higher Education matters; as a
member of the Privy Council Committee for the Affairs of Jersey and Guernsey,
reviews Laws and Orders relating to the Islands, and makes recommendations to
Her Majesty concerning their approval; deals with Ministerial correspondence and
Parliamentary Questions relating to Privy Council Business, such as the
appointment of High Sheriffs.
About the Author
© Crown Copyright. Material taken from the Department for
Business, Innovation & Skills. Reproduced under the terms and conditions of the
Click-Use Licence.
Follow us @Scopulus_News
Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2010-01-06 12:41:16 in Business Articles
