Platinum Jubilee: What is it? Will Queen Elizabeth attend? Will Harry and Meghan be there?

A celebration of the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II begins on Thursday with parades, concerts, a horse race and street parties honoring the longest-serving monarch in the nation’s history.

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It will be the third time the queen will celebrate a significant jubilee. She had similar celebrations on the 25th and 50th year anniversary of her ascendance to the throne on the death of her father, King George VI.

Here’s what is planned for the next few days:

What is the Platinum Jubilee?

The Platinum Jubilee marks Elizabeth’s 70th year on the throne. The longest-serving monarch surpassed the record her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, set before she died in 1901. Victoria, who was 18 when she became queen, reigned for 63 years.

Elizabeth became queen when her father died on Feb. 6, 1952.

What is the schedule for the Platinum Jubilee?

Thursday: The jubilee begins with Trooping the Color, a military parade in honor of the queen’s official birthday. According to Buckingham Place, “The ‘colour’ or regimental flag will be trooped by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, and more than 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division will put on a display of military pageantry on Horse Guards Parade, together with hundreds of Army musicians and around 240 horses.”

While Elizabeth’s birthday is April 21, her birthday is officially and publicly celebrated on the second Saturday in June each year. It was moved to Thursday this year to be part of the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

Following the parade, the family will appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. it is not clear whether Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, will be on the balcony with the queen, but they will be celebrating with the monarch.

Some thought the couple may not be included in the ceremonies since they left the United Kingdom and moved to the United States.

On Thursday evening, the country will see a traditional beacon-lighting ceremony that will include more than 1,500 beacons.

The beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and U.K. Overseas Territories, continuing the United Kingdom’s long tradition of celebrating Royal Jubilees, Buckingham Palace said.

Friday: The queen and members of her family will attend a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, will be rung for the service.

Saturday: Members of the royal family, but probably not the queen, will attend a horse race Saturday at Epsom Downs, a racetrack south of London.

The Derby is one of English racing’s five classic races. The Derby is run over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards on Epsom Downs.

Elizabeth will be represented by her daughter, Princess Anne, at the race, according to Buckingham Palace.

Saturday evening will feature the Platinum Party at the Palace. According to Buckingham Palace, “The celebration will see famous faces from the world of entertainment brought together to perform for a night of musical tributes to celebrate The Queen’s 70-year reign. 22,000 people will attend the event.”

Entertainers Elton John, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli and others will take part in the concert.

Sunday: More than 60,000 people have registered to host Big Jubilee Lunches, according to Buckingham Palace, with events ranging from “world record attempts for the longest street party to back garden BBQ’s and everything in between.”

More than 10 million people across the U.K. are expected to participate.

According to Buckingham Palace, people across the world have pledged to join in with more than 600 international Big Jubilee Lunches being planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.

The weekend ends with a People’s Pageant, involving the military and members of the public and led by the queen’s Gold State Coach alongside a host of celebrities.

“Whilst The Queen won’t personally travel in the regal Gold State Carriage, there will be a fabulous surprise. Original film footage recorded on Coronation Day will be used to recreate the magic of that extraordinary occasion,” Buckingham Palace promises.

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Photos: Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee kicks off with Trooping the Color Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)

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Photos: Queen Elizabeth II leads lighting of Platinum Jubilee beacons Britain's Queen Elizabeth II prepares to touch the Commonwealth Nations Globe to start the lighting of the Principal Beacon outside of Buckingham Palace in London, from the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 2, 2022, in Windsor, England. (Steve Parsons-Pool/Getty Images)

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Photos: British royals, minus Queen Elizabeth, attend Platinum Jubilee church service Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive for the National Service of Thanksgiving held at St Paul's Cathedral as part of celebrations marking the Platinum Jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, in London, Friday, June 3, 2022. (Aaron Chown/Pool photo via AP)

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