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Platinum Jubilee TV guide: The best TV celebrating The Queen's 70-year reign

Katie Archer
·Contributor
Updated ·4-min read
Huw Edwards, AJ Odudu, Kirsty Young, Roman Kemp and Clare Balding feature in the BBC's Platinum Jubilee coverage. (BBC)
Huw Edwards, AJ Odudu, Kirsty Young, Roman Kemp and Clare Balding feature in the BBC's Platinum Jubilee coverage. (BBC)

As the nation gets set to celebrate our longest ever reigning monarch with The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the TV schedules have filled up with a selection of viewing fit for royalty.

Whether you're into history, pageantry, or just want the excuse to enjoy some music this Bank Holiday weekend, there's a huge choice of Jubilee programmes available.

The best Platinum Jubilee TV to watch this weekend, 2 - 5 June, 2022

Trooping the Colour - BBC One - Thursday, 10am

General view of the Colonel's Review, the final rehearsal of the Trooping the Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, at Horse Guards Parade in London. Picture date: Saturday May 28, 2022.
The spectacle of Trooping the Colour. (PA)

Kicking off the Bank Holiday weekend is Trooping the Colour presented by Huw Edwards, Kirsty Young and JJ Chalmers.

The parade will travel from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade for a military spectacle celebrating the Jubilee.

Lighting Up the Jubilee - BBC One - Thursday, 8pm

Yeomen of the Guard during a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London. Picture date: Wednesday May 25, 2022.
Buckingham Palace will be lit up with Jubilee beacons. (PA)

An evening show features the traditional lighting of beacons across the nation and Commonwealth, hosted by Kirsty Young.

Read more: Tom Hanks reveals The Queen's drink of choice is a martini

The principal beacon will be lit at Buckingham Palace and will be joined by 1,500 others to celebrate The Queen's 70-year reign, with presenters including Jermaine Jenas at Buckingham Palace, Gethin Jones in Wales, Carol Kirkwood in Scotland, and Holly Hamilton in Northern Ireland.

EastEnders - BBC One - Thursday, 7.30pm

EastEnders Charles and Camilla visit
The Carters are joined by Charles and Camilla. (BBC)

When the soap announced it would feature a Jubilee street party scene, the storyline seemed a little contrived - until we found out actual Charles and Camilla would be starring in it.

The royals filmed their Albert Square cameo back in March on a visit to EastEnders' new set, but kept it under wraps until recently.

Read more: EastEnders spoilers - Janine kills Linda in car crash horror?

Apparently, they'll be introduced by Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) as his special VIP guests - although how he has managed to get Prince Charles to set foot in Walford remains to be seen.

The Crown Jewels - BBC One - Friday, 7.30pm

Clive Myrie discovers the history of The Crown Jewels. (BBC)
Clive Myrie discovers the history of The Crown Jewels. (BBC)

BBC news reporter Clive Myrie fronts this documentary about The Crown Jewels - 13 crowns and nearly 24,000 precious gemstones.

They form an important part of our monarchs' coronations and are priceless treasures, whose history Myrie will discover as he traces their story from before the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066 to today.

Platinum Party at the Palace - BBC One - Saturday, 7.30pm

Adam Lambert singing
Queen + Adam Lambert top the bill at the platinum party. (Getty)

If the pomp and pageantry of a Jubilee isn't your thing, look out for Platinum Party at the Palace which has signed up a huge cast of stars to celebrate in style.

Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow and George Ezra will share the three-stage set up with the likes of Duran Duran, Andrea Bocelli, Mimi Webb, Sam Ryder, Jax Jones, Celeste, Nile Rodgers, Sam Ryder, Sigala and Diversity.

Read more: Final chapter of BBC Elizabeth Line documentary announced

There'll also be a special appearance by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lin-Manuel Miranda as well as performances featuring casts from The Phantom Of The Opera, Hamilton, Six, The Lion King and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Look out for famous guests including Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry, Dame Julie Andrews, The Royal Ballet, Ellie Simmonds, and a specially recorded performance from Sir Elton John.

The National Lottery's Big Jubilee Street Party - ITV - Saturday, 5pm

Jason Manford and Fleur East present the celebration. (Getty)
Jason Manford and Fleur East present the celebration. (Getty)

Much of the Jubilee programming is being aired by the BBC, with ITV already having aired their Windsor Castle-set spectacle back in May.

But there's still one more celebration to come in the form of this "street party" presented by Jason Manford and Fleur East from the AO Arena in Manchester, which will be transformed to look like an actual street.

Ella Henderson, Becky Hill, Heather Small, Mark Owen, Lady Blackbird, House Gospel Choir, Tom Grennan, Kaiser Chiefs and Steps are all performing, as are various choirs, music and theatre groups, while special guests share moving stories about The Queen's reign.

The Platinum Pageant - BBC One - Sunday

File photo dated 23/05/22 of Queen Elizabeth II
Sunday's pageant celebrates The Queen. (PA)

Presenters Kirsty Young, Clare Balding, AJ Odudu, Anita Rani, Sophie Morgan, and Anton Du Beke guide us through an artistic representation of the Queen's reign that sounds pretty similar to the one ITV already aired.

Artistic performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers from every part of the UK and Commonwealth will unite to tell her incredible life story.

Watch: BBC unveils unseen footage of The Queen