Four-day break for Queen's Golden Jubilee

by Melissa Kite

The Queen's golden jubilee in 2002 will be marked by a four-day public holiday, Tony Blair has announced.

A day of celebration will held on Monday, June 3, the Prime Minister said. The Queen will attend a national service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral the next day. The spring bank holiday, normally held in May, will be moved to June 4.

Mr Blair, who resisted calls for a public holiday on the Queen Mother's 100th birthday in August, said: 'I believe the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, will join me in looking forward to Her Majesty's golden jubilee as a joyous occasion and a very special milestone.

'It will be a time both for looking back at the central part which the Queen has played in the affairs of this country and the Commonwealth over the preceding 50 years and for looking forward to the continuation of Her Majesty's unique contribution for many years to come.'

Mr Blair revealed that the Queen had told him there should be no 'undue expenditure' of public funds on the programme of celebrations.

'The Queen has said that she sees her golden jubilee as an opportunity to express her thanks for the support and loyalty she has enjoyed during her reign.

'She hopes that events surrounding the jubilee will create numerous opportunities for voluntary and community service and that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to enjoy the celebrations to mark this happy occasion.'

The Queen will travel within the United Kingdom 'as widely as possible' during the summer months of May to July, especially in the weeks leading up to the bank holiday, to share the celebration.

She will visit the Armed Forces on June 27 and open the Commonwealth Games in Manchester on July 25.

There will be a visit to a Commonwealth country in the autumn and the Queen, who will then be 76, has also agreed to grant city status to a UK town to mark the jubilee.

The most recent golden jubilee was that of Queen Victoria in 1887. The country indulged then in widespread celebration, largely because the anniversary had finally persuaded the Queen to emerge from years of widowhood and long mourning over the death of Prince Albert in 1860.

Because she had largely withdrawn from public life to the solitude of Windsor and Osborne on the Isle of Wight, her lack of public face gave rise to the last serious republican movement in Britain. Her reappearance for her 50th anniversary restored her position, and she went on to celebrate a diamond jubilee in 1897, before her death in 1901 as Britain's longest-reigning monarch.

George III also celebrated a golden jubilee in 1810, but with less celebration. He did little more than appear on the Palace balcony to acknowledge the band and the crowd which had gathered to greet him.

According to Downing Street schools would be able to choose how they wished to celebrate the Queen's jubilee.

It is expected that street parties will take place up and down the country. There may also be special jubilee medals and awards for outstanding members of the community.