KUALA LUMPUR: The United Kingdom (UK) is kicking off June with major celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and 96th Birthday celebrations.
According to the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, the official celebration in the UK will begin on June 2 with the Trooping the Colour and Horse Guards Parade, concerts, street parties and pageants.
Across the UK, over 70,000 Big Jubilee Lunches are expected to take place at homes and local village halls over the Jubilee weekend, and over ten million people across the UK are expected to be joining the celebrations.
In Malaysia, it said Rotary Malaysia District 3300 is organising a dinner event on June 2 to light the Platinum Jubilee Beacon in honour of the Queen’s 70-year reign and service.
"The Platinum Jubilee Beacon will join more than 2,800 Platinum Jubilee beacons to be lit across the world,” the high commission said in a statement on Wednesday (June 1).
It added, the Malaysian British Society is holding its Platinum Jubilee Charity Golf Day, and members of the British armed forces based at Butterworth Airbase will hold a garden party with staff and families from all Five Power Defence Arrangements member nations.
Meanwhile, the British High Commission will be hosting an official reception later in the month.
British High Commissioner to Malaysia Charles Hay will also be planting a tree at the High Commissioner's Residence, to be part of the Queen's Green Canopy initiative as well as to create a physical legacy of the Jubilee celebration.
"Throughout her 70-year reign, the Queen has been a symbol of continuity, the constant figure in an ever-changing Britain. Her unwavering devotion to service to the people in the UK and the Commonwealth has made her one of the most recognisable and respected persons in the world,” Hay is quoted as saying in the statement.
Queen Elizabeth II had visited Malaysia three times - inaugural visit in 1972, attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Langkawi in 1989, and attending the closing of the XVI Commonwealth Games in 1998.
On Feb 6, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch in history to achieve Platinum Jubilee - 70 years of reign and service.
However, large scale celebrations are scheduled for June to take advantage of the summertime weather. It also coincides with the Queen’s official birthday which falls on the second Saturday in June. - Bernama
