THE QUEEN will today celebrate her Diamond Jubilee anniversary, with 6 February marking exactly 60 years since her accession to the throne.
Yesterday the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who is recovering from treatment for a blocked artery over Christmas, attended a church service in Sandringham, as her traditional winter break in Norfolk comes to an end.
Official celebrations will take place over a four-day weekend in June, during which the Queen will lead a 1000-strong flotilla of boats on the Thames through London.
The Queen usually spends Accession Day privately – it is also the day her father George VI died – but this year she has two public appearances planned, visiting both King’s Lynn Town hall and a local nursery school.
In her Diamond Jubilee year the Queen has said she will try to visit as much of the UK as possible, while other members of the Royal family travel further afield to take celebrations round the world.
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge will visit Asian countries where the Queen is head of state, including Malaysia, Singapore and the Solomon Islands.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit other Commonwealth countries, including Australia, and New Zealand.
