After decades of speculation, it has finally been revealed what the Queen keeps in the royal handbag. Sensational news, but we'd better not spread it.

Over the public holiday weekend from Thursday 2 June 2022 to Sunday 5 June 2022 many people of Blairgowrie and Rattray watched the Platinum Jubilee London Celebrations from front row seats in their own homes on colour television screens.

This may have prompted some of us to think back to the day of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation when, if we were lucky, we watched on a small black and white television screen, possibly at the kind invitation of a neighbour.

Local newspapers advertised television sets for sale from 47 guineas.  Hire Purchase Terms were offered and there was also the option to rent.

To say that times have changed during her 70 year reign, would be a gross understatement.

Man has been on the moon, babies have been conceived by IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation), vaccines can prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, Dolly the Sheep was the first to be cloned; we could go on and on.

Over the seven decades of her reign there have been 14 US Presidents, 14 British Prime Ministers and 6 Popes.

TROOPING OF THE COLOUR

The celebrations kicked off on 2 June 2022 with the spectacle of the Trooping of the Colour to mark the Queen's official birthday.

JUBILEE BEACONS

With the push of a button the Queen lit the principal beacon at Windsor Castle as part of a chain of more than 3500 beacon tributes to her 70 year reign.

As dusk fell and as a Piper played, Blairgowrie's Jubilee Beacon was lit in the Wellmeadow by a representative of the Queen.  A crowd gathered to witness the occasion and were entertained by the Lyric Choir.

SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING

This was followed on Friday 3 June by a Service of Thanksgiving in St Paul's Cathedral.   Unfortunately, the Queen was not well enough to attend, but for those who follow the Royal Family this was a chance to play who-is-who.

PLATINUM PARTY AT THE PALACE

Next, on Saturday 4 June, came the Platinum Party at the Palace when a crowd of tens of thousands watched as a long list of famous artistes performed on giant stages in front of Buckingham Palace.  The facade of the palace was transformed into a giant I Max screen with stunning images projected throughout the evening.  In addition we were treated to some drone images above the palace.

THE BIG JUBILEE LUNCH

The Big Jubilee Lunch was celebrated on Sunday 5 June 2022 with communities countrywide, including Blairgowrie and Rattray, sharing special back garden barbecues and street parties.  Some Blairgowrie and Rattray residents couldn't wait and held their celebration on Saturday.

Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council held a Jubilee Family Fun Day.

CATERAN YOMP

Over Saturday and Sunday the 11th Cateran Yomp was one of the official events to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee raising funds for ABF The Soldiers' Charity.  The Queen is patron for the charity and commander-in-chief of the British Army.

For more about the Cateran Yomp click here.

THE QUEEN'S GREEN CANOPY

The Queen's Green Canopy initiative was launched in May 2021 when people across the UK were invited to 'plant a tree for the Jubilee'.  During the first planting season from October 2021 to March 2022 more than one million trees were planted.  The second planting season will begin in October 2022.  The 'Tree of Trees', a unique sculpture consisting of 80 steel 'branches' holding 350 trees in pots was erected outside Buckingham Palace.  The trees will be sent to be planted all over the UK.

Many trees have already been planted in Blairgowrie and Rattray by individuals and local groups.

PLATINUM JUBILEE PAGEANT

The Pageant on Sunday 5 June 2022 played a major part in the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in London.  It began with a military parade involving 1750 people and 200 horses.  The band of the Household Cavalry led the Gold State Coach pulled by eight Windsor Grey horses.  Words like colourful, multi-cultural, memorable, jaw-dropping and even eccentric may be used to describe what followed, but, in truth, it is impossible to do justice in words to the pageant of street arts, music, puppets, costume and carnival three-quarters of a kilometer long.

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee weekend has been an extra special time for creating many extra special memories for all of us.  Thank you to all who planned, organised and took part.

Most important of all, from Blairgowrie and Rattray, Thank You, Ma'am.