South African TV viewers will be able to watch special coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations on Sky News (DStv 402) from this coming Saturday right through the weekend and into next week with 5 days of dedicated coverage of this special event.
On Friday 1 June Sky news will kick off its coverage with Jeremy Thompson who will present live from Buckingham Palace in the build-up to the main events. Sky News will have reporters in position as the ships amass for the flotilla around West India Dock, and as the crowds gather in Putney and along the Thames.
On Saturday 2 June Sky News' royal correspondent Paul Harrison will be at Epsom Racecourse throughout the day as the Queen attends the Derby. Sky News will continue its presentation from Buckingham Palace with Anna Botting and Colin Brazier, until it moves to Putney in the evening with Andrew Wilson. Sky News' Royal, Religious and National Events commentator Alastair Bruce OBE, will be on hand throughout the weekend to give expert commentary on the ceremonial and historical aspects of the celebrations.
On Sunday 3 June as a flotilla of 1000 boats makes its way down the Thames led by the Queen in the Royal Barge, Eamonn Holmes, Sarah Hewson and Charlotte Hawkins will be presenting from the heart of the action outside City Hall. Kay Burley will be among the crowds gathering on the riverside, Andrew Wilson will be on board the specially commissioned Sky News boat, Lorna Dunkley will be in Battersea Park, Colin Brazier at Westminster Bridge and Paul Harrison will be on board Tenacious, a tall ship moored in the Avenue of Sail.
With street parties being held around the United Kingdom, Sky News' regional correspondents will look at the celebrations outside the capital. At 21:00 (South African time) there will be special highlights programme looking back at the day's events.
On Monday 4 June Paul Harrison will be spending the day in Buckingham Palace Gardens as the Queen hosts a garden party, and in the evening as the Diamond Jubilee Concert gets underway, Sky News' arts and entertainment correspondent Lucy Cotter will be live from The Mall. Later on in the evening a network of more than 3000 beacons will be lit throughout the UK and the Commonwealth. The Queen will light the last Beacon at Buckingham Palace at 23:30 with Kay Burley presenting live from the scene.
On Tuesday 5 June the Diamond Jubilee weekend will culminate with a day of celebrations in London. The presenting trio of Eamonn Holmes, Sarah Hewson and Charlotte Hawkins will guide viewers through the day's events on Sky News live from the Palace as the royal family makes a balcony appearance and with a flypast.
Kay Burley will be at St. Paul's Cathedral for the Service of Thanksgiving, and Gillian Joseph, Adam Boulton and Dermot Murnaghan will be covering the carriage procession through the streets of London from various London landmarks. At 21:00 there will be a special highlights programme on Sky News looking back at the day's events.
Sky News is running a well-done and elegant on-air promo for the channel's coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's upcoming Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, with all the anchors taking part, telling viewers what Sky News will be doing.
