New four-day Bank Holiday weekend announced for 2022 to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

We can't wait for this!

Queen Elizabeth II
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 12th Nov 2020
Last updated 2nd Jun 2021

Finally, there's something to look forward to, granted it is a couple of years away, but a new four-day Bank Holiday weekend has been announced in the year that has been dominated by the Coronavirus Pandemic.

To mark a massive 70 years of the Queen's reign in February 2022, the monarch hopes that people around the UK will be able to join in celebrations between 2nd - 5th June 2022. The weekend in June has been chosen with the hope the early summer weather will be better than in February.

By moving the second May Bank Holiday to Thursday 2nd June, an additional Bank Holiday will be created on Friday 3rd June, making it a long weekend of celebrations and hopefully good weather.

Speaking about the celebrations, a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said, "The Platinum Jubilee offers an opportunity for the Queen to express her thanks for the support and loyalty Her Majesty has received throughout her reign.

"The Queen hopes that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to join the celebrations."

Now take a look at the Queen throughout the years:

Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth with the new born Princess Elizabeth

Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) was born on 21st April 1926 in Mayfair, London.

Queen Elizabeth II as a baby

In October 1926 this rare photo of the young Princess Elizabeth was released.

The Queen has been a fan of corgis from an early age

Princess Elizabeth walking a Corgi in London's Hyde Park.

Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth enjoyed acting when they were younger

Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth act in the pantomime of Cinderella at Windsor Castle.

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret gave a radio broadcast

On 10th October 1940 Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret made a broadcast to the children of the Empire during World War II.

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day

Princess Elizabeth, and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh on their wedding day, 20th November 1947.

Princess Elizabeth poses with her newborn Prince Charles

Prince Charles was Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh's first child, born on 14th November 1948.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

The newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowd from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne stood with her. The coronation took place on 2nd June 1953.

Queen Elizabeth II presents the Jules Rimet trophy to Bobby Moore

Queen Elizabeth II smiles after presenting England Captain Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy, after England won the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Silver Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by crowds in London during celebrations of her Silver Jubilee on 7th June 1977.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Golden Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, ride along the Mall in an open top car on their way to watch a parade in celebration of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

In 2007, the Queen became the UK longest reigning monarch

In December 2007, Queen Elizabeth became the longest-living British monarch, breaking her great-great-grandmother's (Queen Victoria) previous record.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II greets schoolchildren in Victoria Square during her Diamond Jubilee visit to Birmingham in 2012.

The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday in 2016

10,000 guests gathered on The Mall for a lunch to celebrate The Queen's Patronage of more than 600 charities and organisations.
The lunch was part of a weekend of celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday and 63-year reign.

Sapphire Jubilee celebrations in 2017

In 2017, the Queen became the first monarch to celebrate their Sapphire Jubilee. It was marked by a 62 round royal gun salute from the Gun Wharf outside the Tower of London with Tower Bridge.

Prince Philip dies aged 99

After more than 70 years of marriage together, Prince Philip sadly passed away in April 2021. The Queen attended his funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, and had to social distance due to Covid-19 restrictions which were in place at the time.

Queen Elizabeth celebrates Platinum Jubilee

To celebrate her 70 years on the throne, Platinum Jubilee celebrations took place in June 2022. The celebrations included a Platinum Party at the Palace show on 4th June, festivals, as well as street parties over the long weekend. The celebration is extra special as Her Majesty was the longest reigning British monarch and is the only one to have ever celebrated a Platinum Jubilee.

Queen Elizabeth sadly passed away on September 8th 2022 in Balmoral Castle. Royal Family members such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex reportedly travelled to Balmoral after Queen was placed under medical supervision earlier that day. Her funeral is due to take place on September 19th.

The last time we had an extra holiday for a Royal celebration was for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee which was on 5th June 2012.

Meanwhile, if you can't wait until 2022 for a bit of extra leave, take a look at our cheeky way to use just 19 days annual leave and get the WHOLE month of May off in 2021.

If you don't want May off, but you want to maximise your annual leave there are also some other options such as, in April, due to the Bank Holiday, you could just use four days annual leave Monday - Thursday before Good Friday.

Lastly, if you get both Good Friday and Easter Monday off as Bank Holidays, by using 20 days annual leave in April, you could bag yourself a massive 33 days off!

READ MORE:

How taking 19 days off in May 2021 will give you the ENTIRE month off

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