Kate Loves: The Queen's Diamond & Platinum Jubilees

It was with great interest I read celebratory plans scheduled to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. The much-deserved extended Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday, 2nd to Sunday, 5th of June will see the Queen become the first British monarch to celebrate seven decades of service. It has been described as "something of a reopening ceremony" for the United Kingdom. The four meticulously planned days will see an array of public events, royal appearance and opportunities to bring communities together. Equally, it will be a time for reflection. The passing of the Duke of Edinburgh has served as a poignant reminder the tides of change are pushing the monarchy forwards -- and the Jubilee is perhaps a more significant time than ever before to acknowledge a lifetime of unrelenting service.

Festivities will commence on Thursday, 2 June, with Trooping the Colour. Of course, all plans are contingent on the pandemic, but all going smoothly, it will be the first traditional Trooping since 2019. The UK's long-held tradition of marking royal milestones (weddings, coronations and jubilees) with the lighting of beacons will continue. For the first time, beacons will also be lit in the capital cities of each Commonwealth country.

A service of thanksgiving will be held on Friday, 3 June at St Paul's Cathedral.

The following day, Saturday, 4 June, will see the Royal family attend the Derby at Epsom Downs before Platinum Party at the Palace. Broadcast live on the BBC, a special concert will be held at Buckingham Palace, with members of the public invited to attend.

Finally, a highlight on Sunday, 5 June will be the Big Jubilee Lunch, encouraging families, friends, neighbours and communities to join together all over the UK. Events will culminate with the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, bringing 5,000 people together from across the UK and Commonwealth against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace. Arts, theatre, music, circus, carnival and other acts will celebrate the Queen. A new story by acclaimed writer Sir Michael Morpurgo called There Once Is a Queen will be showcased on the day. Below, a sneak-peek of what to expect from Bristol-based group Cirque Bijou.

Town & Country reports:

"We see the 2022 Platinum Jubilee weekend as an opportunity for the country to emerge united, re-energized and renewed. It will in a sense be a reopening ceremony for the U.K, a catalysing moment of national purpose and most importantly to be fun, joyful and to entertain,” Pageant co-chairman Nicholas Coleridge told reporters and supporters.

His co-chair, Sir Michael Lockett, added, "We’re not just telling the story of an incredible life...it is the story of the second Elizabethan age, a time of rapid change and unparalleled progress."

In partnership with the Royal Household and Kate's patronage the Victoria & Albert museum, young people were invited to present design submissions for an emblem in honour of the platinum jubilee. Graphic design student from Nottinghamshire, Edward Roberts, won the national competition. The nineteen-year-old's design will feature prominently on merchandise, websites and social media campaigns over the next year. The choice of purple, symbolizing royalty, is the hue closest to the purple in Her Majesty the Queen's Robe of Estate and Coronation Gown. Edward said, "For my design, I wanted to give a modern twist to the iconic elements of St Edward's Crown, and so I created a continuous line, which I felt was a fitting representation of The Queen's reign."

Though still quite some time away, the Jubilee will not merely encompass what promises to be a truly memorable weekend, but senior members of the Royal family "will travel around the country to undertake a variety of engagements to mark this historic occasion". It's understood this will dominate much of the royal schedule for the first half of 2022, however, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jubilee visits underway as soon as this autumn. If we cast our minds back to 2012, the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh visited over 50 cities and towns, conducting a plethora of engagements, walkabouts and meetings. With the Queen now 95, a number of these trips will need to be conducted by other members of the family. Below, the portrait of the Queen wearing her State dress and robe, and standing in Westminster Abbey, by Ralph Heimans. It was commissioned to mark the jubilee.

As noted above, the pandemic is very much the deciding factor in many plans, especially when it comes to overseas tours. With this in mind, any definite overseas plans may not be finalised for some months, and again there is a large element of uncertainty. A succession of tours proved a key element of the 2012 Jubilee. You'll recall the Cambridges visited Malaysia, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. Prince Harry toured Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall undertook visits to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. It was Mozambique and Zambia for the Princess Royal. And the Earl and Countess of Wessex toured Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Gibraltar, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Let's revisit 2012 and take a glance over the engagements the Duchess undertook, both at home and abroad, in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Not only will it offer a flavour of what to expect in the months ahead, it's a welcome trip down memory lane. I remember 2012 as one of the most enjoyable and busier years in royal watching. 1 March 2012 was a very special day for Piccadilly as three generations of Royals visited luxury store Fortnum & Mason to mark rejuvenation efforts in the area. Fortnum's renovated restaurant was renamed the Diamond Jubilee Tea Station to mark the Queen's 60 years on the throne -- a lovely touch from the prestigious Royal Warrant Holders. It was a significant engagement, and the first time the Queen had carried out one with two future queen consorts. The trio coordinated in shades of blue with the Duchess opting for a fringed M Missoni coat, ZARA dress and Links of London Hope Egg earrings.

A week later, the Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for a royal visit to Leicester. It was a very exciting occasion, with locals preparing for over a month in anticipation of the day. More than 10,000 union jacks and 1,000 metres of bunting were delivered to Leicester City Council ahead of the visit. Mayor of Leicester, Sir Peter Soulsby said on the day, "We're a modern city that has changed most dramatically during the sixty years of Her Majesty's reign - and I think very appropriate that she should begin her tour here." After a visit to the cathedral, Kate told locals she "missed William desperately" during his time in the Falklands. Kate's teal LK Bennett peplum Jude jacket and dress is still a favourite look of mine. Styled with Lock & Co's Fairytale hat and green amethyst Kiki earrings it was an ideal choice for a varied day.

The Duchess chose pink Emilia Wickstead for the Sovereign's luncheon in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor in May. Aside form weddings and funerals, it marked the largest gathering of monarchs for a decade. Royals from twenty-six countries including Japan, Sweden, Norway, Lesotho, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Romania, Denmark and Saudi Arabia attended to celebrate Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.

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The Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend officially kicked off in June with a wonderful display at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Over one thousand boats mustered on the River Thames from the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world.

Crowds lined fourteen miles to catch a glimpse of the royals. When the Duchess arrived, wearing red Alexander McQueen, she was heard describing the event as "so exciting". The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Prince Harry, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Philip and the Queen on board a tender that once belonged to the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Royal Barge, called the Spirit of Chartwell. The Middleton family also travelled on another boat. Despite a very grey and rainy day, it was a magnificent sight on the Thames.

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It was a night of music and fun for the Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace. Ten thousand people gathered for a star-studded line-up, which included Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue, Cheryl Cole, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Madness, Alfie Boe, Grace Jones -- and Kate favourites, Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow. Take That singer Gary organised the event and said Her Majesty, William and Harry had a great deal of input in selecting the acts. Kate wore a Whistles print dress for the night, which ended with fireworks and cheers.

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For the final day of the weekend, a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral was held. Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams gave a sermon to mark the Queen's jubilee: "I found in the Queen, someone who can be friendly, who can be informal, who can be extremely funny in private - and not everybody appreciates just how funny she can be - who is quite prepared to tease and be teased, and who, retaining her dignity always, doesn't stand on her dignity in a conversation."

In one of her most elegant looks, Kate wore a blush overlay bespoke McQueen dress with a ribbon belt. A hat by Jane Taylor, LK Bennett Sledge pumps (do you remember the Sledges? :)), a Prada clutch and pearls completed the look.

The Diamond Jubilee tour continued in Nottingham, where the Cambridges joined Her Majesty for an 'away day'. The couple drove from Anglesey, Wales that morning, where they were living whilst William worked as an RAF search and rescue pilot.

William and Kate took part in the games at Vernon Park and both had a go at javelin, with Kate appearing to thoroughly enjoy taking part :) The Duchess repeated her M Missoni fringe coat.

Following celebrations at home, September heralded the Cambridges' overseas Jubilee tour in Southeast Asia. Then principal private secretary and mentor Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said, "The aim of this tour is to celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The Duke and Duchess will use the tour to pay tribute through what they do and say, and who they meet, to The Queen's lifetime of dedication to the mix of peoples and cultures that make up all of Her Majesty's Realms and the Commonwealth. The Tour will comprise a mixture of formal and informal moment which reflect these aims and the Duke and Duchess's characters and interests specifically." Upon arrival in Singapore, Kate chatted with Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, Dr Maliki Osman and his wife, who chatted to the couple about outlet shopping in Bicester and life in the UK.

Orchids featured prominently. First, the couple took part in an Orchid naming ceremony in which an orchid was named in their honour. At the National Orchid Garden, William and Kate viewed the 'Diana' orchid in the VIP garden. Diana was due to visit Singapore to view the orchid, but due to her untimely and tragic death she was never able to make the journey. The symbolism of the visit was reflected in Kate's orchid print, kimono style Jenny Packham dress. The designer produced several beautiful daywear pieces for the Duchess during this tour, each taking into account sartorial diplomacy.

Another memorable look was Kate's purple and cream Prabal Gurung dress worn for a State dinner given by the President of Singapore, at his formal residence, the Istana.

Day two of the royal tour began with a visit to one of Singapore's most beautiful parks, Gardens By the Bay, which spans 101 hectares of reclaimed land in central Singapore. The park consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. Kate wore a white broderie anglaise full skirted suit by Alexander McQueen and her Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon wedges. The Corkswoon's were most definitely in the 'love/hate' camp and prompted many a spirited discussion on the blog :)

William and Kate visited Strathmore Green, a residential area in Singapore, which was chosen because it was named after Queen Elizabeth II. Kate picked a summery look by Singaporean label RAOUL. The brand is helmed by Douglas and Odile Benjamin and began as a men's shirt label. It  evolved into a full collection of ready-to-wear for men and women including accessories and timepieces. Despite a hugely promising few years, the label closed its boutiques to focus on wholesale business in 2016 due to a very tough retail climate.

It was floral-print Erdem for an Eden Hall reception.

William and Kate's final engagement in Singapore was a sombre one, with the couple visiting Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery. There are 4,641 World War II casualties buried or commemorated at the cemetery, of which more than 850 of these are unidentified. There are 64 World War I headstones, of which three commemorate casualties known to have been buried elsewhere, but whose graves could not be found. The duck egg blue Packham shirtdress was an understated choice for the occasion.

The Cambridges arrival in Kuala Lumpur coincided with Kate's first overseas speech at Hospis Malaysia: "William and I are hugely excited to be in Malaysia -- this, our first ever visit -- and are absolutely delighted to have been invited to join you all here at Hospis Malaysia. It is so exciting to learn about the Country's very first paediatric palliative care programme and to witness for myself something of the wonderful work of Hospis Malaysia's wonderful staff." Kate also announced plans for Hospis Malaysia and her patronage East Anglia's Children's Hospices to work together.

The Duchess dazzled in McQueen for an official dinner given by His Majesty the Agong at his official residence, the Istana Negara, in Kuala Lumpur. The intricate gown featured an overleaf of sheer material with embroidered gold hibiscuses, the Malaysian flower. Other striking design elements included a sweetheart neckline, a full skirt and fitted bodice. I imagine gowns like this and the orchid print Packham dress may one day feature in an exhibition at the Palace.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began day four of the royal tour with a visit to the Asskyakrin mosque in Kuala Lumpur, their first visit to a place of Islamic worship. Kate selected Beulah London for the visit.

The tour took an incredibly tough turn before the Cambridges arrived to attend a Diamond Jubilee Tea Party at the British High Commissioner's Residence. Kate endured a gross violation of her privacy when a French publication published photos of the Duchess in private while on a holiday in Luberon, which were taken the week before the tour. The Duchess was said to be "hurt, shocked, furious and disgusted". A palace statement read: "The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and it is all the more upsetting to the Duke and Duchess for being so." Later, a French court ruled the Duchess' privacy was invaded, awarded damages and fined the magazine's editor and CEO.

The itinerary for the next day was a welcome one: the couple travelled to Danum Valley conservation area to explore rainforest with a smaller press pack accompanying them away from crowds following a very difficult 24 hours. It was a relaxed look for Kate, who was in cargo pants, a past season ZARA blouse, and her Longchamp Le Pliage bag.

The next leg of the tour saw a visit to the beautiful Solomon Islands.

Following a colourful and incredibly warm welcoming ceremony in Solomon Islands, William and Kate attended an Island Feast, given in the traditional manner outdoors, hosted by the Governor-General at his official residence. Kate only tried on the Tav Pacific batik print an hour before wearing it, choosing the dress given to her by her hosts instead of the dress she had planned to wear. It proved one of the most popular looks of the tour.

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The Duchess sported a sunny yellow Jaeger dress for meetings with officials and a visit to a cultural village, Burns Creek in Honiara, where they viewed performances by the nine provinces that make up the nation.

William and Kate flew to Marau, dubbed Paradise Island, on the furthest end of the main island Guadalcanal. The welcoming ceremony was entirely developed by the local people who put garland necklaces made from shell money on the royals. William and Kate retired for the night at the exceptionally beautiful Tavinipupu Resort Hotel. I've always loved the midnight blue Mulberry dress the Duchess wore on the day.

From there it was time to wave goodbye to Solomon Islands and hello to Tuvalu.

The tour concluded with one of the most fun events of any Cambridge tour - dancing, grass skirts and an evening of relaxed festivities. It marked the very first time members of the Royal family had stayed overnight in Tuvalu.

A fitting end to a memorable Jubilee tour!

"In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship, and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth" - Queen Elizabeth II, 2012.

I know we're all excited to see plans for the Platinum Jubilee unfold.