Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Pubs will open to 1am as law change passes today

Pubs will be able to stay open in England and Wales until 1am from Thursday 2 June to Saturday 4 June, as part of a four-day bank holiday weekend

Queen Elizabeth II waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the finale of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on June 5, 2012 (

Image: Getty Images)

Pubs will stay open into the early hours when Brits celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, as the legal order has passed today.

Punters across England and Wales will be able to stay out until 1am each night from Thursday June 2 through to Saturday June 4 to mark the Queen’s 70th anniversary of service.

The changed licensing hours will only apply to venues that have already been granted permission to serve booze until 11pm.

In a written statement, Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said: “The Government has consulted on, and will be proceeding with the proposal to, make a Licensing Hours Order under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003 to relax licensing hours in England and Wales to mark the Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and to celebrate the longest reigning Monarch in the United Kingdom.”

Ministers have already promised Brits a show in time for the Queen’s celebrations that will combine “ceremonial splendour” with “technological displays”.

The Queen and her late husband Prince Philip at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin in 2011
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The Platinum Party at the Palace on Saturday 4 June will involve “some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars” and be broadcast by the BBC.

Individual members of the royal family attending have yet to be named but it is likely the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other members of the monarchy will attend the show.

The Royal Family has also launched a ‘Platinum Pudding’ competition for people to submit their recipes – as happened for coronation chicken.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the service of thanksgiving for the 2012 Jubilee
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Judges for the contest include Dame Mary Berry, Monica Galetti and Buckingham Palace Head Chef Mark Flanagan.

The winning recipe will be made available to the public and the pudding will be enjoyed at Big Jubilee Lunches, the Palace said.

The Queen’s Birthday Parade on Thursday 2 June will start at Buckingham Palace with more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, 400 musicians and an RAF flypast.

More than 1,500 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, as well as in the capital cities of Commonwealth countries.