BBC One to broadcast Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations

MUMBAI: This June, BBC One will broadcast a long weekend of live events to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s official 90th birthday on Saturday, 11 June.

The weekend of birthday celebrations for the landmark anniversary begins on 10 June with a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, and the traditional display of pageantry of the Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) will be held on 11 June on Horse Guards Parade, culminating with the Royal Family making their annual appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

BBC One will also broadcast a special celebration on The Mall in St James’s Park taking place on 12 June to close the weekend of birthday celebrations. The iconic stretch will be transformed for its largest ever street party with 10,000 people gathered to celebrate The Queen’s patronage of over 600 charities and organisations on the occasion of her 90th birthday for The Patron’s Lunch.

The one-off spectacle will be a classic British ‘street party’ where guests will enjoy a hamper-style lunch at tables positioned along the full length of The Mall, with entertainment and Union flags aplenty. The Queen will be joined by other members of the Royal Family to celebrate the occasion. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry are Joint Presidents of The Patron’s Lunch.

BBC One head of events production Phil Dolling says, “We are thrilled to be broadcasting three days of events in June to mark Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday. It promises to be a fantastic weekend, climaxing with a huge street party in the Mall on the Sunday. It is a very significant birthday for the Queen and BBC One will be right at the heart of the celebrations.”