London, Jan 6 (Inditop.com) A four-day holiday bonanza and street parties have been announced to mark the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 of Queen Elizabeth II – the longest-reigning British monarch since Victoria.
To mark the monarch’s 60 years on the throne, the government announced a four-day holiday June 2-5, 2012, coinciding with London hosting the Olympic Games.
“The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II will be a truly historic occasion,” said cabinet minister Lord Peter Mandelson Tuesday.
“I know the entire country will want to pay their tributes to Her Majesty and to look back with pride and great affection at the many things she has achieved during her reign.”
Street parties, a new royal borough, a commemorative medal and a competition for towns to bid for city status would also mark the jubilee celebrations, Mandelson said.
The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897.
The Queen has also agreed to make Greenwich, in southeast London, a royal borough to recognise its global significance as the home of Greenwich Mean Time and its role in the 2012 Olympics.
Elizabeth II, 82, is the longest-reigning living British monarch, set to clock up 58 years on Feb 6 this year.
Her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, is the longest serving British monarch having reigned for 63 years and 216 days on the throne. She is followed by King George III (1760 to 1820), who ruled for 59 years.
