Jubilee Parties on A Little Bird - An Insiders Guide to London

Going Out

Join the crowds in the Mall on Thursday 2^nd June when the Trooping of the Colour takes place. 1,200 soldiers will be on parade, and there’s the RAF fly-past which the Queen and royal family watch from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. On Sunday the pageant includes the bells of Westminster Abbey being rung at 2.30pm – as they did on Coronation Day – before a procession from Westminster to the Palace. Over 10,000 people will follow the gold state coach, telling the story of the Queen’s reign with music from each decade and an enormous dragon puppet.

Elsewhere in Central London, Ham Yard Hotel is having a street party in its courtyard from 12-5pm Saturday on Sunday. On Saturday join their brunch film club for a screening of Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts that includes the film, brunch and a Bloody Mary for £35. Sotheby’s has free lunchtime chamber music on Friday as part of their Jubilee Arts Festival. And if you’re passing Claridges then do stop in to look at their Royal Archive Cabinet that displays precious items from their close relationship to the Queen – including a swatch of fabric from the Queen’s coronation gown and the original menus and cocktail cards from Coronation Day in 1953.

The King’s Road will be pedestrianised from Sloane Square to Cheltenham Terrace on Saturday 4 June from 11am-6pm for a Street Party. The Fine Food Market is joined by the Royal Commonwealth Market – with food from the member nations – all found on the green opposite Saatchi Gallery where there’s also space for picnic rugs.

Petersham Nurseries in Richmond are having a summer fête on Friday 3^rd and Saturday 4^th June with music, sandwiches, scones and a spectacular Jubilee floral display. You can also book their Celebration Afternoon Tea from Thursday – Sunday.

And the wonderful deli, Panzer’s are having a Street Party on Saturday 4^th June with live music, food and drink.

Afternoon Tea at Petersham Nurseries

Staying In

We loved Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen, the BBC’s documentary narrated by the Queen, and made up of the Royal Family’s home video footage. If you missed it, do catch up on iPlayer. Over the weekend you can watch all the action at the Palace on the BBC from 10am on Thursday, where brilliant Kirsty Young is back presenting after 4 years away. On Thursday evening from 8pm she hosts Platinum Beacons where the beacons are lit across the nation and Commonwealth. On Friday night the Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace kicks off from 7.30pm with music from Queen, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, George Ezra, Elbow, Nile Rogers as well as presenters including Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry and Julie Andrews.