Celebrations across the nation for the Queen's 90th Birthday
Communities Minister calls on people across the nation to get together to mark the Queen's official birthday in June.
Communities Minister Marcus Jones today (21 April 2016) called on people across the nation to get together with their neighbours and celebrate all that’s great about their local areas and the country, by hosting street parties to mark the Queen’s official birthday in June.
The minister revealed that up to 10 million people from Cornwall to Cumbria are expected to join in the celebrations over the weekend of 10 to 12 June, with a mass street party on the Mall in London called The Patron’s Lunch, a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, together with the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony.
To help the nation celebrate the government has revised its street party guidance, busting popular myths on the red-tape challenges needed to be overcome by providing a handy checklist for what is really needed and offering practical advice to anyone planning their own street party.
This includes a simple form people can use to let their local council know about their plans and information on how to apply for a road closure as well as information on playing music, insurance and fund raising.
Communities Minister Marcus Jones said:
Now is the perfect time to plan your celebrations as the country has just undergone it’s biggest ever clean up, with a quarter of a million litter-pickers having spruced up our streets ahead of the Queen’s 90th birthday.
Her Majesty has served this country for more than 6 decades and this truly national event is a great chance for us all to get together and show the strength of our community spirit.
Our updated guidance provides easy, step-by-step advice on how you can get your picnic benches set up, table cloths down and be part of the nationwide festivities.
Street parties are a great British tradition and a fantastic opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate national occasions. Alongside the centrepiece event on the Mall, members of the public will be able to soak up the festival-themed atmosphere around large screens and picnic in the neighbouring Green and St James’s Parks.
The government has also extended opening hours for our Great British Pubs, which are at the heart of communities and provide fantastic venues for local people to come together and throw parties fit for our Queen.
This year’s Big Lunch on the 12 June is also supporting The Patron’s Lunch in inspiring street parties across the country. People can register their street parties and download a pack that contains invites, posters, recipe cards, leaflets and more to help get started.
Street party myth-busters
- You don’t need to fill in complex forms. For most small parties in quiet streets, all your council needs to know is where and when the closure will take place so they can plan around it.
- You are not required by law to pay a charge for closing your road for small residential street parties in England, so if asked for a payment make sure to check what the charges are for.
- You do not require a music licence at a street party unless amplified music is one of the main purposes of the event.
- There is no requirement from central government to have public liability insurance and many councils do not insist on it.
- The Food Standards Agency has confirmed that one-off events such as street parties aren’t usually considered food businesses, so there are no forms to fill in and you don’t need a food licence.
Further information
Our step-by-step guide gives practical advice for anyone looking to hold a street party.
Pub opening hours have been extended on 10 and 11 June.
The Big Lunch takes place on 12 June, coinciding with the Patron’s Lunch - the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations.
7.29 million people took part in 2015, but with councils in many parts of the UK organising this year’s road closures, a whopping 10 million people are anticipated to join the fun in 2016.
- 21 April: The Queen will unveil a plaque marking the start of a 4-mile Queen’s Walkway at the foot of Castle Hill in Windsor. In the evening the Queen will light the first in a chain of 1,000 beacons across the country and worldwide.
- 12 to 15 May: The Queen and Members of the Royal Family will attend a pageant celebrating The Queen’s life to be held at Home Park in Windsor Castle.
- Friday 10 June: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend a National Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
- Saturday 11 June: Her Majesty accompanied by Members of the Royal Family will attend at The Queen’s Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade.
- Sunday 12 June: The Queen will attend the Patron’s Lunch, a celebration of Her Majesty’s patronage of over 600 organisations in the UK and around the Commonwealth since 1952.
Visit the official website of the Royal Family.
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