Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this year, becoming England’s second-longest serving monarch and the V&A Waterfront is celebrating with a bang.
The V&A Waterfront, home to its own 22 historic sites and with its own stories from days gone by, will join countries around the world in marking Her Majesty’s 60 years on the throne.
A number of public events will be held on Monday, June 4 from 7:00 pm, with a flotilla of Royal Cape Yacht Club boats sailing past the Hildebrand Ristorante and into the Victoria Basin and the Cape Town Highlanders marching from Ferryman’s to Nobel Square. Visitors to the V&A Waterfront should position themselves on Nobel Square – where a marquee will be erected if the weather is inclement – for the best views. British Consul General Chris Trott will light a beacon at 7.20pm, followed by a six-gun salute to mark the 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s service to her people and the people of the world. Both the British and South African national anthems will be sung.
“Former president Nelson Mandela calls the Queen ‘my friend Elizabeth’, and the V&A Waterfront is pleased to be able to mark this auspicious occasion,” said V&A Waterfront Executive Manager of Strategic Marketing, Chantelle Cole.
“The V&A Waterfront has a long-standing relationship with the British monarchy, dating back to 1870 when Prince Alfred opened the Breakwater Basin, which today forms part of this world-class property. Without doubt, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be preserved in the British history books as one of this century’s most momentous occasions.”
