Anita Atkinson owns what could be the world’s largest collection of royal memorabilia, so it’s no surprise she is set to host a huge celebration in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The 65-year-old is expecting around 200 people to turn up at her farm in County Durham for a party on Sunday.
“I can’t remember how many people I’ve invited,” she said. “It doesn’t matter because it’s a field and I’ve said to them to bring a picnic.”
Guests will be invited to participate in a range of activities including craft sessions, assault courses, egg and spoon races and a hokey cokey dance.
“And of course, I’ll expect them all to stand up for the national anthem, otherwise they’ll get thrown out the field,” she said laughing.
Ms Atkinson, who owns more than 12,500 items of royal memorabilia spanning nine reigns and drives a Union Jack mini, said celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is “about as important as me breathing”.
“I’ve been waiting for this for 10 years. And I had no doubt that she would make it to her 70th [year on the throne].”
Ahead of the garden party at her home, she will spend Thursday and Friday delivering talks about the Queen at a pop-up tearoom event in Bishop Auckland. The scones and cakes will be baked by adults with learning disabilities.
In Wales, celebrations started early in the little town of Llandeilo.
Spearheaded by Llandeilo Primary School business manager Rachel James and headteacher Karen Towns, pupils enjoyed a jubilee lunch on Friday.
It followed a trip to London earlier in the week where pupils from the choir sang at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ms James told i the children dressed up in partywear and hand-decorated crowns for the celebratory tea party.
Ms Towns, who wore a royal costume for the day, said: “I think it makes the children realise we are part of a United Kingdom, we have history to celebrate.”
Ms James has booked for her family to go on a camping trip to St Davids to participate in celebrations there, before taking in street parties in town.
“I’m joining with my other family on Sunday and we’re hosting our own tea party where we’re making traditional scones and cakes and hoping that the weather will allow us to sit down and drink out of bone china,” she said.
It’s not just UK superfans who are making an effort to toast the monarch’s milestone.
Data from ticketing and event platform, Eventbrite, has revealed celebrations are planned as far as Abu Dhabi, Ghana, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Australia and the US.
Jackie James, owner of The London Tea Room in St Louis, Missouri, has organised a “good, old fashioned British street party”.
Ms James, who was born and raised in England, said: “We are closing off the street and will have live entertainment, such as Scottish dancers, English Morris dancers and live music.
“To start our festivities we will have a Scottish piper performing the special composition that Stuart Lindell wrote for the Queen for this event.”
Peter Pennington, British Officers Club Washington DC president and a retired Royal Navy officer, is set to celebrate with a garden party for 60 guests in the grounds of a Georgian style house in Alexandria, Virginia.
A traditional trifle will be at the centre of the dessert selection and guests will have the opportunity to win prizes including Marmite.
Mr Pennington said: “It is important as she is an example to all and a reminder of what service means.”
Co-hosts of the US-based Royally Obsessed Podcast, Rachel Bowie, 39 and Roberta Fiorito, 29, will be tuning into the festivities from New York.
Ms Bowie said: “We’re looking forward to the actual weekend, of course — the balcony moment with the family, the royal fashion, the reunion with the Sussexes, so much.”
Ms Bowie and Ms Fiorito are attending an event hosted by the British Consulate in Her Majesty’s honour at Lincoln Center’s Hearst Plaza on June 4. It will followed by a silent disco hosted by DJ Mark Ronson.
And the party does not stop there.
The pair will host an intimate brunch with eight listeners on 5 June at the aptly named Queensyard restaurant in New York City.
They plan to “sip cocktails with the Queen’s face emblazoned on it, reminisce about the events of the weekend, play royal bingo and dress to impress”.
Ms Bowie said: “There is so much interest and excitement in the Platinum Jubilee. Many of our US listeners are UK-bound this week and have had the trip in the works for quite some time.”
She added: “Our listeners want to thank the Queen for her steady leadership through seven decades. She is the first British monarch to ever reach this point, so our Royally Obsessed audience feels like they’re witnessing a history book moment. We can’t wait to raise a glass and toast.”
