Queen's Diamond Jubilee

June 5 (and 4) are public holidays: our usual last Monday in May holiday's being moved to June 4 and June 5 is a bonus (if you get someone else to pay for it: if you're an employer, it's a malus of course).

There are actually three major events: the flotilla/fireworks along the Thames on June 3, the June 4 concert (seats only for those UK residents who've scored in the free national ballot, but audible and visible to anyone along the Mall or in the adjacent parks, which collectively hold half a million) and the June 5 service.

I mention all this because by June 5 my suspicion is we'll all be a bit Jubileed out, and I'd doubt whether the procession will attract much of a crowd. Queen Gets Carriage to St Paul's isn't quite a once in a lifetime event: it's not that different from what she'll be doing a week later on much the same route for Trooping The Colour.

The route is routinely Palace-The Mall-Trafalgar Square-Strand-Fleet Street-Ludgate Hill. The area at the top of Ludgate Hill forms a natural amphiteatre where there are usually quite a lot of viewing spots. Strand/Fleet St/Ludgate Hill are all narrow (there's a bit of a thing about watching these processions from first floor windows if you've got a chum with access), but the areas which can best hold crowds are The Mall and the edge of Trafalgar Square.

If crowds along the Mall are too deep to see anything (big if in my view, but who knows?), there's often a good vantage point on Duke of York's Steps, leading up from the Mall on its north side about 200 yds west of Admiralty Arch.

I imagine the carriages return the same way they came, but sometimes royal parties return by car so we can all get our streets back, so check. If the route remains closed to traffic, you might get a better view on the way back.

The one time I went recently to watch the Trooping the Colour parade, the police were stopping people from congregating on Duke of York Steps - presumably too much risk of a domino-style crowd-topple - but they didn't seem to mind people standing up on the railing outside Carlton House Terrace (and clinging to a neighbouring tree for support).

I would imagine the full details would be published on http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/ so keep checking back there for all the details.

I don't know if they're planning a gun salute like they do for Trooping the Colour (possibly not since it's so soon after) - those usually take place in Green Park, and the time I saw it included the Horse Artillery galloping the guns into place, to music. All very grand.

PS:

Note that the blurb says "carriage procession". It doesn't say "Great long procession in the fanciest State coaches she's got".

The royal carriage collection extends from spectacular bits of bling even an African dictator might think a bit ostentatious to "everyday" carriages roughly interchangeable with those things you pay a few hundred dollars for rides round Central Park in.

The great massive State coaches notoriously induce seasickness in their passengers. With Her Maj 85, Hubby now in his 90s, and the processional route nearly 2 miles each way I suspect both feel they've done their stint of endangering their gastric health over the past 60 years. Expect them to use the kind of tasteful, understated, landaus they use to go to the races in.

June 5 (and 4) are public holidays: our usual last Monday in May holiday's being moved to June 4 and June 5 is a bonus (if you get someone else to pay for it: if you're an employer, it's a malus of course).

Oh I dunno - employers can't complain that much as they're getting a free day out of us this year with the extra "leap" day on Feb 29th

"they're getting a free day out of us this year "

Only if you're paid monthly.

Thanks for the information. I'll be staying in Oxford from June 3 to June 6 and plan on going into London for a day. Looks like June 5 will be my best option.

Thank you for the excellent information. I was envisioning all of the grand carriages being in the procession, and thought it would be interesting to see. We are planning to take the Eurostar to Paris on June 5, and I was considering delaying our departure time in order to see the procession. However, perhaps I'll just try to catch all or part of the Thames River Flotilla on Sunday instead. It seems like it will be much grander. Queen Elizabeth's coronation was the day after I was born in June of 1953, so I'd like to glimpse at least one of the Diamond Jubilee events, but I don't want to tie up my already scarce touring time by trying to do them all. I'm also concerned with how the four-day holiday and expected crowds may or may not affect our ability to see some things in London. Your insight is very helpful in making our plans--please feel free to share your recommendations.

As ever, the best view is likely to be from in front of the telly.