2012 is a year of celebration for the UK – not only is it the first time the Olympic Games will be held here since 1948, but Queen 
Elizabeth celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this year.
The Official Jubilee Emblem design (left) for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is based on an original illustration drawn by Katherine Dewar.
It was selected from 35,000 entries submitted by children aged 6 to 14 years from all over the UK in response to a Blue Peter competition.
The official launch of the Diamond Jubilee Year is the 6th of February 2012, celebrating the day she came to the throne on 6th February 1953. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897
This special year is being celebrated in many different ways with many events, ceremonies and entertainment for all to enjoy, as well as with many charitable and long-term projects such as the Jubilee Woods Project, launched in February 2011 which aims to plant six million trees across the UK, creating hundreds of new woodlands, including 60 “Diamond Woods” of at least 60 acres each to mark each year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.
Some of the events and activities to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee are:
MAY
Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor Castle
“Around the World in 60 Years and 90 minutes”
Dancers, musicians, military and equestrian displays from around the world will come together for three nights in the private grounds of Windsor Castle on 10, 11 and 13 May
In a show consisting of seven acts, visiors will be treated to a spectacular journey around the world, reflecting The Queen’s State and Commonwealth visits during the course of Her Reign. Starting from London the journey goes West visiting The Americas, Australasia, Asia, The Middle East, Africa, Europe and finally Great Britain.
The Diamond Jubilee Pageant is a not for profit event with all surplus going to selected charities to help the disadvantaged and disabled.
JUNE
The Big Jubilee Lunch
Sunday 3rd June 2012
This will be the fourth annual Big Lunch and is part of the main progrmme of events over the Diamond Jubilee celebrations over the special 4-day bank holiday.
The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project that aimd to get as many people together as possible across the UK to have luch with their neighbours in a simple act of community, friendship and fun.
Jubilee Beacons
Monday the 4th of June, 2012 will see thousands of beacons lit across the world to celebrate Queen Elizabeths 60 year reign over the UK, and as head of the Commonwealth.
4th June
Concert at Buckingham Palace
Also on the 4th June is a concert at Buckingham Palace, organised by the BBC with tickets are available to UK residents by public ballot.
JULY
Thames River Pageant
The Thames River Pageant on the afternoon of Sunday 3rd July 2012 will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river.
Left: The Royal Barge at Tower Bridge, by Joseph Bennett.
The armed forces, fire, police, rescue and other services are all afloat and there are an exuberance of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and other boats of note.
In addition to this, the center of the river will have up to thirty thousand flag-waving members of the public on passenger boats, moored mid-river for an eye-level view of the pageant.
There will be music barges, boats spouting geysers and pyrotechnic barges spitting smoke and daytime fireworksas well as specially constructed elements like a floating belfry, with its chiming bells answered by those from riverbank churches.
The Official Emblem for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
The Official Emblem for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is by 10-year old Katherine Dewar, from Chester, and is the winning design in a national competition for children between 6 and 14.
