Host of activities planned to mark Platinum Jubilee

Harborough District Council is working with residents, businesses and local organisations across the district to commemorate The Queen’s 70 glorious years on the throne, and has been exploring a number of opportunities.

Villages will be able to apply for grants of £250 towards local projects and events, and there will be matched-funded grants of £500 available for commemorative benches, beacons or other community installations, which celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

People in the Harborough district will be invited to help plant trees across the district – including Queen Elizabeth Acer trees.

The Council is also inviting secondary schools to produce artwork, celebrating each decade of the Queen’s reign, that are set to be installed in locations in the town.

Across the UK and Commonwealth, events and activities are being planned to celebrate the Jubilee with a special extended national bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June 2022.

Cllr Phil King, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “I hope we all join together across the district, and the Commonwealth, to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s reign, and share what this means to us. The extended bank holiday weekend is an opportunity to mark this occasion in our own unique way, and, with Accession Day on 6 February, we are busy working with partners to ensure the Platinum Jubilee later this year is a time to remember.”

The Council will also be asking people to share their memories, photos or experiences of seeing or meeting The Queen, or what Her Majesty means to local people using the Twitter hashtag #JubileeHarborough.

The Council said more information about its plans will be released over the coming weeks.

Anyone planning street parties should complete a temporary event notice at www.harborough.gov.uk/event-toolkit

Her Majesty The Queen acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952, aged 25 years old.

Throughout 2022, Her Majesty and members of the Royal Family will travel around the country to undertake a variety of engagements to mark this historic occasion culminating with the focal point of the Platinum Jubilee Weekend in June.

Anyone who has ideas they would like to put forward can contact the Council at www.harborough.gov.uk/contact