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| Extra holiday for Queen's Jubilee | Extra holiday for Queen's Jubilee |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A "nationwide celebration" will be held to mark The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the government has announced. | A "nationwide celebration" will be held to mark The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the government has announced. |
| Events to mark The Queen's 60 years on the throne will take place in the first weekend of June 2012, with an extra bank holiday being created. | Events to mark The Queen's 60 years on the throne will take place in the first weekend of June 2012, with an extra bank holiday being created. |
| Lord Mandelson said it would be a "truly historic occasion" which would allow the British people to show their "pride and affection" for The Queen. | Lord Mandelson said it would be a "truly historic occasion" which would allow the British people to show their "pride and affection" for The Queen. |
| He also announced that Greenwich would become a royal borough. | He also announced that Greenwich would become a royal borough. |
| The Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 was marked by celebrations across the UK, including a royal tour and a pop concert at Buckingham Palace. | |
| First Secretary of State Lord Mandelson told peers that a series of "fitting events" would be held in the summer to 2012 to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and that planning was at an early stage. | |
| 'Remarkable achievement' | |
| He said the government had agreed to grant an additional bank holiday on Tuesday 5 June to provide a focal point for the celebrations. | |
| In addition, the traditional Bank Holiday at the end of May will, in 2012, be moved to 4 June to make it a four day weekend. | |
| Noting that Queen Victoria was the only previous British monarch to have reigned for 60 years, Lord Mandelson said 2012 would be a "landmark year". | |
| Hailing The Queen's time as sovereign as "near-perfect", Lord Mandelson said the celebrations would give the British people the opportunity to show their "great pride and affection" for the Queen and her contribution to British life. | |
| "People across the whole country will want the chance to recognise this remarkable achievement," he said. | |
| Special commemorative medals are be issued to mark the anniversary, with recipients likely to be those who have shown "tremendous service" to the country. | |
| Lord Mandelson said he would consult on this and said he would also consider other suggestions including a special horse race - reflecting the Queen's love of equine interests - to mark the event. | |
| Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in February 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI. |