The Queen is always 'very keen' to hear about Norfolk life, says Lord Lieutenant
Lady Dannatt told us that Her Majesty, sees Sandringham 'almost like a holiday home'
The Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk has told us the Queen's always been 'very keen' to hear about what local people have been getting up to.
Lady Dannatt who regularly speaks and writes to Her Majesty, say she sees Sandringham 'almost like a holiday home' and has been integral to local life during her seventy year reign.
She told us that Norfolk's pulling out all the stops to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, and there's more to come beyond the weekend- with a royal salute at the Royal Norfolk show planned, along with a dedicated challenge award scheme.
"They are all going to come together on the evening of the first and second days of the show"
"We have beacons, street parties, an interactive map which shows exactly what is going on where and when. Then we have the Jubilee challenge awards, which are designed in tribute to Prince Phillip, after his enormously successful awards scheme".
"I thing the thing that I'm looking forward to most is the Royal Salute that we're going to be holding at the Royal Norfolk Show, this year. We have two thousand school children, a sixty piece orchestra, an African Choir, Samba drummers and they are all going to come together on the evening of the first and second days of the show".
"We've always found them very keen to hear about what the county has been getting up to"
She told us it's the least they could do given the Queen's close connection to Norfolk:
"I write to here majesty once a year at Christmas and let her know the highlights of county life, and hopefully include one or two things that will make her smile. She's been absolutely integral to the Norfolk community and when Prince Phillip sadly died, he was enormously missed around here".
"I think the times that they've spent here at Sandringham have been relaxed and happy times. It's been their holiday home in a sense, where as perhaps Buckingham Palace and Windsor have been more working environments. We've always found them very keen to hear about what the county has been getting up to".
The Platinum Jubilee - What's On?
Thursday 2nd June: Trooping the Colour
To mark the Queen's official birthday, over 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians are coming together in what the official Royal Family website describes as "a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare". The event will consist of a musical parade where soldiers will salute the Queen. The traditional march then closes with a fly-past by the Royal Air Force, which the Royal Family typically watch from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Thursday 2nd June: Platinum Jubilee Beacons
At Buckingham Palace, the Principal Beacon (which traditionally has been lit to mark the Queen's jubilee), will be 'lit' on Thursday. This jubilee beacon however is set to be a little different to previous jubilee celebrations, as a large living tree sculpture by British designer Thomas Heatherwick is being used. The lighting installation within this structure will act as the lighting of the principal beacon to reflect the Royal Family's commitment to environmental causes. A Palace spokeswoman has said on the sculpture: "It's 21 metres high – that's the height of three giraffes." Throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, other beacons are being lit in celebration.
Friday 3rd June: Service of Thanksgiving
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen's reign will be held at St Paul's Cathedral. This is in keeping with tradition as ever since 1897, the cathedral has hosted Jubilee services. St Paul's are also hosting an exhibition exploring the history of Jubilee celebrations at the cathedral across three centuries. This has been open to the public since May 25th.
Saturday 4th June: Platinum Party at the Palace
On Saturday, big names Diana Ross and George Ezra are set to perform at a concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the Queen's reign. Live coverage will be broadcast on BBC One and will be hosted by Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp and co-presented by Huw Edwards, Clare Balding, AJ Odudu and Anita Rani.
Sunday 5th June: Big Jubilee Lunch
Street parties are being planned across the UK and neighbours are expected to join together for food and fun to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. This will mark the end of the bank holiday. It is also the day that pubs stop opening until 1am, giving everyone a reason to relax and have an early night.
Sunday 5th June: Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Performers will come together in London to tell the story of the Queen's reign through a pageant. This will include a "River of Hope" section made up of 200 silk flags that will make its way through The Mall, appearing like a moving river. In 2012, there was a similar parade of 670 boats on the Tideway of the River Thames in London as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
July: The Royal Collection Trust
Three displays marking the Queen's accession to the throne, the Coronation and Jubilees will be put on at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
12th-15th May: Platinum Jubilee Celebration Performance
In celebration of the Queen's 70 years on the throne, more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers took part in a 90-minute show taking the Windsor Castle audience through history right from Elizabeth I to the present day.