Royal Gloucestershire
Fly the flag for Royal Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire people have always adapted easily to having Royalty in their midst and we are keen, without being obtrusive, to present those great little snippets and stories that reflect people's fascination with 'Royal' Gloucestershire. Several members of the Royal Family live in Gloucestershire, including Prince Charles at Highgrove House near Tetbury, The Princess Royal at Gatcombe Park, and Zara Phillips in Cheltenham.
After a year which will be remembered for the iconic wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton comes 2012 – the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, to mark 60 years of Her Majesty's reign. The Cotswolds, already an area with multiple connections to royalty, will be holding many events to celebrate. Please check this page regularly for updates.
The Beckford Inn near Tewkesbury will be celebrating the Diamond Jubilee from the 2nd June to the 5th June by holding a fabulous GARDEN PARTY each day on the beautiful lawns, with a BBQ, a Pimms & Champagne Tent, Cream Teas, Strawberries and Cream and more... and if it rains, it will all just move indoors! A Jubilee weekend at The Beckford, come rain or shine.
Enjoy Blenheim Palace's Diamond Jubilee celebrations including children's characters Rupert the Bear, Noddy & Big Ears on 3rd, Bunbury's Celebrity Cricket Match and Afternoon Tea on 4th, and Massed Brass Bands on 5th.
Broadway will celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee on Saturday 2nd June with a vintage & classic car show from 12pm to 4pm on the village green. On Sunday 3rd June there will be a 'Prom on the Green' from 12pm, with face painting, fancy dress parade, pony rides, children's entertainer, pony trap & tractor rides, as well as traditional great British food, live music and a fireworks display at 10.30pm. On Monday 4th June will be a Church village fete, also on the green. A great British weekend for all the family.
The villages Broadwell & Donnington near Stow-on-the-Wold will be celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. 15 gardens open with teas, children's treasure trail, dog show & stalls on the green, flowers and organ recital in the Church.
Local blue badge tour guides have organised some Diamond Jubilee Walks in Cheltenham, bringing forth any royal connections the town has. 22nd May and 5th of June - 11.30am. Tickets available from Cheltenham Tourist Information Centre. Click here to download a PDF of Jubilee events in Cheltenham, including walks, fairs and picnics.
There will also be a street party to celebrate the Jubilee in the grounds of St. Mary's Church off Clarence Street. The Bishop of Gloucester will launch this day of fun for all. During the day will be various kinds of music and a chance to have a go at salsa dancing. You can get creative by decorating your own Diamond Jubilee souvenir or make a crown. There will also be lots of food and drink.
Ellenborough Park have introduced a new 'Royal Gloucestershire' package. This exclusive, event, for a small select group of 8 people, includes a full day tour of Highgrove Gardens, Tetbury and the surrounding area with Alan Foster Tours on the following dates: Monday 30th - Tuesday 31st July, Monday 6th -Tuesday 7th August, Monday 13th - Tuesday 14th August. See more details here.
Celebrations in Gloucester will include screenings of 'The Queen' and the Queen's Coronation and visit to Gloucester in 1953, a Party in the Park at Gloucester Park on Monday 4th June, an old style Sports Day on the 5th and many more at the city's museums, parks and Guildhall.
Gloucester Cathedral will be busy with multiple Regal organ recitals for the Jubilee. Music lovers from far and wide will flock to Gloucester Cathedral for a triple dose of organ recitals as International Concert Organist Jane Watts and Assistant Organist at Worcester Cathedral Christopher Allsop perform within days of each other followed closely by the Cathedral’s own Assistant Director of Music Ashley Grote performing a special Jubilee Bank Holiday concert on the majestic Cathedral organ.
On Saturday 26 May at 5.30pm Jane Watts will perform music by Simon Preston, William Lloyd Webber, Marcel Dupré and Alexandre Guilmant followed on Thursday 31 May at 12.30pm by Christopher Allsop whose programme includes music by William Mathias, John Stanley, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Joseph Bonnet, Claude Debussy and Max Reger.
The highlight of Bank Holiday Monday (4th June) will be at 12.30pm when Ashley Grote presents “Music for the Diamond Jubilee”. This regal performance includes well known and much loved music such as Coronation March ‘Orb and Sceptre’ by William Walton, Trumpet Tune by Henry Purcell, Pomp and Circumstance March No 4 in G by Sir Edward Elgar, The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by George Frederic Handel, Variations on ‘America’ by Charles Ives (aka ‘God Save the Queen’) and Coronation March ‘Crown Imperial’ by William Walton. The performances will be projected into the Nave via a large screen. Admission is free with a retiring collection in aid of Cathedral Music.
The Cathedral will also be hosting a Teddy Bear's Picnic on Wednesday 6th June at 10.00am until 2.30pm. Everyone is invited to bring their own special teddy and join in the fun. Visitors can play ‘Spot the Bear’ in the Cathedral and follow a special free teddy trail. The Chapter House is the place to go for Teddy themed crafts. You can make a teddy sandwich, collage bears, stained glass bears and much more. Activities are FREE, but donations are welcome for craft materials. Families bringing picnics are welcome to enjoy their lunches in the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral. Fun for all the family and teddies of all ages!
Gloucester Guildhall will be hosting a Tea Dance in celebration of the Queens Diamond Jubilee on Saturday 2nd June. For only £5 you will get a slice of cake, a cup of tea and of course the chance to dance in the Guildhall’s prestigious hall, once a renowned Victorian ballroom. With the Guildhall being the only venue in the county with a sprung dance floor, you will not want to miss out on this exciting one off event.
Starting at 2pm, you will have plenty of time to prepare yourself for this spectacular afternoon; whether you are a fan of the waltz or perhaps prefer a more fiery tango, come down and join in the fun!
Expect a gracious afternoon of being treated like royalty whilst sipping tea and dancing in the spacious hall. A chance to catch up with friends, celebrate being British and take part in the right Royal Jubilee Tea Dance.
The Nailsworth Diamond Jubliee Committee is proposing to organise events on Monday 4th June at the King George V Playing Field to include a beacon, fireworks, picnic tea, band concert, children’s games and a torchlit procession down the ‘W’. More details to follow.
Dr Jenner’s House in Berkeley are having drop-in Make Your Own Bunting workshops for the Jubilee on Monday 4th & Tuesday 5th June, plus standard children’s activities and trails. They will also have a marquee & gazebos set up so there is additional space for visitors to have tea and cake on the lawn.
Over the weekend of the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations, The Kingham Plough will be offering a special set menu which will be our re-creation of the original menu enjoyed by the Queen at her Coronation. Additional information regarding the menu and prices will be added to the website in due course - www.thekinghamplough.co.uk.
Out of the Hat in Tewkesbury are holding a Diamonds & Jubilation drop-in workshop for children, making bunting, hats, crowns etc. Wednesday 6th June from 10am to 1pm. Normal admission applies.
Painswick Rococo Garden have introduced a new structure to the grounds: The Queen's Lodge. It is built from willow and resembles the Crown Jewels to commemorate the Queen's Jubilee. It is the first structure to be added to the grounds since the 1740s.
The Burgage, Scout Field and Royal Oak - Prestbury Parish Jubilee Street Party – Monday 4th June noon – late. Following on from the success of The William and Kate Royal Wedding event in the garden of The Royal Oak in Prestbury last year, there will be a day long street party (The Burgage will be closed to cars 10 – 6pm). There is so much going on, including an evening Barn Dance 6- 9.30pm. Come along in period or Ceilidh dress!
Stow-on-the-Wold will be celebrating with several events, including a Jubilee Jamboree Exhibition at St. Edward's Hall, with refreshments, raffle, stalls and Stow Primary School portraits of the Queen. Sunday 3rd June will see a Civic Service and unveiling of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Plaque to be conducted by Vice Lord Lieutenant for Gloucestershire. On the 4th there will be an event at Stow Cricket Club with fireworks, cannon fire, refreshements, hot food, live music and more.
Stroud will be celebrating the Diamond Jubilee with the first ever Stroud on Water Festival from 2nd to 4th June 2012. It will be held at Marling School playing fields and coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Cotswolds Canals Trust. In addition to the IWA Trailboat Festival, festivities will include a music stage, acoustic stage (featuring open mic poetry and comedy) and a dance stage. There'll be activities for children, a climbing wall, craft tents and lots more.
To commemorate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the opening of the new Garden Terrace The Inn at Fossebridge will be hosting the following events during the Jubilee Weekend;
Sunday, 3rd June - Be the first to enjoy the introduction of the “Fossebridge Family Feast”, an exclusive Garden Terrace dining experience for parties of 6 to 10 guests. Start with a Mezze platter of Charcuterie, Cured Fish, Local Cheeses and Homemade Artisan Breads. Followed by the main event of “Carve and Serve by you” at your table. 3 course Family Feast Adults £27 and Children (up to age 10) £12.50.
Monday, 4th June - All day Fossebridge Garden Party with Pimms, Charcoal BBQ (noon-5pm), Cream Teas and Cupcakes with Balloon Sculpture for the children from Magic Wiz. Advance booking is advised to ensure availability of a table. Please call us on 01285 720721, quoting Cotswolds.com.
The Snooty Fox at Tetbury are holding 'a right Royal knees up' from Friday 1st June. “We will have at least 20 different ciders and 16 real ales available all weekend,” said General Manager Marc Gibbons. “We are really looking forward to this event, with the Jubilee celebrations, the famous Woolsack races on the bank holiday Monday and the soap box racing on the Tuesday.” The hotel, in addition to its normal bill of fayre, will also be featuring Gloucester Old Spot spicy sausages and locally bred roast pork and stuffing rolls, (something that has become synonymous with the hotel’s Woolsack celebrations), throughout the weekend's festivities.
Thrupp School has received an £800 grant from Stroud District Council to make a Golden Carriage which will be used in a procession as part of the Jubilee Celebrations. The Children will process from Thrupp School to the Brimscombe and Thrupp Playing Fields, (A419) London Road, Thrupp, GL5 2SH on Saturday 26 May for the GRAND Village Fête. This will start the celebrations for the community with the English Civil War Society performing a re-enactment with cannons and muskets. There will be a Jubilee plate decorating competition which all local school are asked to enter. The entries will be displayed in the Tea Tent. The May Queen will be chosen from all girls who arrive at the Fête ground by 10:30am and the winner will lead the procession round the field after 100 balloons have been released by Julie Girling MEP and a cannon is fired. Winners of the many competitions, which are the mainstay of the 23 year old Fête, will receive rosettes coloured red, white & blue!
Westonbirt Arboretum have a Jubilee themed guided walk on Saturday 23rd June, exploring trees with Royal connections. Free after admission.
Whiteshill & Ruscombe Village Party will have a 1950s theme - with an afternoon barbecue, beer tent, fancy dress, live music, welly wanging and raffle prizes. Free entry - bring a picnic! Saturday 2nd June 2012, 2pm -10.30pm at Whtieshill Playing Field.
The celebrations in Wotton under Edge are set to include a street party, a fun day and football tournament at Synwell Playing Field, a church thanksgiving service, an open day at the Scout hut, workshops with Under the Edge Arts, a concert and evening disco with local bands and fireworks. The Heritage Centre will also be creating a 60 year Royal display for the occasion and there are further plans to create shop window displays and fill hanging baskets with red, white and blue flowers. For the complete list of events in Wotton-under-Edge, see here.
We would love to see any photos you have with royal memories, or photos of local people meeting members of the Royal Family and, with your permission, add to our photo gallery on Cotswolds.com, so that everyone can enjoy looking at your Royal photographic memorabilia.
Take a look at the Royal Gloucestershire photos we have collected so far
Send us your images and stories of Royal Gloucestershire at
katy.mccarthy@gloucestershire.gov.uk