A Weekend like no other as Jubilee fever sweeps the nation


2 June 2012

With 9,500 street parties taking place this weekend, the entire nation is already a hive of excitement as Diamond Jubilee fever takes hold.Downing Street, like thousands of homes the length and breadth of the country, is adorned with bunting.On every corner, the red white and blue of the Union flag is seen fluttering in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II, only the second monarch in British history, to reach a momentous 60 years on the throne.On Saturday, the Queen herself got the party started at an event that she adores –  the Epsom Derby. And at the Tower of London a 21-gun salute was fired in Her Majesty's honour. Other tributes included a procession in Perth, Scotland, featuring 1000 pipers, drummers and reed players. And in Cliviger, near Burnley, residents young and old celebrated with a quintessential garden tea party.   

Downing Street has been decorated for the bank holiday weekend.

Larry, the Downing Street cat, plays with bunting in the garden of number 10.

Tower Bridge's lights take on a patriotic hue.

A woman has her photograph taken with a cardboard cut out of Queen Elizabeth II in The Mall.

Children from Norbreck primary school have a Diamond Jubilee party at Madame Tussauds in Blackpool, presided over by a new waxwork of the Queen, along with statues of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Thirteen-year-old Ellice Hetherington sees red, white and blue.

Long-time royal fan Tony Hutt stands in the centre of the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace where he will camp out waiting for the central celebrations to begin.

Tony is the first of the 'royal campers' to bag a spot.

Racegoers on an open top bus during Ladies' Day at the Epsom Derby.

Marmite's special edition for Diamond Jubilee – note the name change.

The RAF Falcons parachute team arrives at RAF Fairford with the Diamond Jubilee flag during the launch of the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military air show.

Commander Ian Clarke (with three stripes on uniform) commanding officer of HMS Diamond toasts Her Majesty in Portsmouth's Royal Navy Dockyard, after firing a 21-gun salute to officially launch celebrations.

MS Daring's Ship's Company form the 'E II R' formation on the flight deck.