Expect the best of British at Belvoir’s Jubilee Weekend! A street party, stalls, jousting, strolling performers, musicians and traditional summer food and drink are lined up to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in the grounds of the Regency castle, which doubled as Windsor in Netflix’s The Crown.
The weekend will feature The Knights of Nottinghamon horseback thundering in close quarter action with thrills, spills and family friendly fun. Entertainment lined up includes a Punch & Judy show, craft area and re-enactments while classic cars and a meet and greet with the Belvoir Birds of Prey add to the vintage fun.
This event to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II is part of the Belvoir Revisited series of weekends recreating six different periods of history. For those wanting to step back in time, an Annual Pass secures free entry into all six Belvoir Revisited events, as well as unlimited visits to the Castle and Gardens, starting with the 1940s Weekend on 28-29 May right through to the Medieval Re-enactment on 3-4 September.
The Regency style Aviary Tearoomin the Castle will be serving dainty sandwiches and sweet treats for those wanting to indulge in a traditional Afternoon Tea, or why not try the newest addition to the Engine Yard, the Duchess’s Parlour, and enjoy a glass of champagne on the outdoor terrace, open Saturday and Sunday.
At the Engine Yard, visitors can get into the Jubilee mood with market stalls to browse on Thursday 2 June and entertainment from The Blighty Belles, classic cars and Punch and Judy on Friday 3 June.
Emma Stenning, CEO, Belvoir, said: “Our Jubilee celebrations will provide plenty of entertainment for all ages, led by the return of the popular jousting knights, all set in the grounds of our beautiful castle, and surely there can be no better place to enjoy a lovely afternoon tea than in its very birthplace!”
Belvoir is lighting a Jubilee Beacon at Barkestone Woods on Thursday June 2nd at 9.45pm. It will be one of thousands being lit at the same time across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth, to come together to celebrate this historic milestone. This will be the first time a British monarch has marked a Platinum Jubilee, 70 years as Sovereign. In September 2015, The Queen overtook Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch.
Belvoir is also creating a special Jubilee Orchard. Charles, Marquis of Granby, son and heir of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, has led the recreation of an old apple orchard using heritage varieties documented in the archives and has since planted 200 trees while a second field is due to be planted with a further 200 apple and pear trees.
Belvoir’s Head Gardener Tom Webster said: “It’s Tree-bilee Year, and to play our part in celebrating our monarch’s 70 year reign we are adding our newly planted apple orchard, the Jubilee Orchard. A few of the old apple trees from the original orchard still remain and these are being rejuvenated to provide cover for new beehives – Belvoir honey production being a further planned project. A large number of old lead labels have been found in these fields allowing us to acquire the same historic varieties, where they still exist and ensure that only trees compatible with this area are grown here.”
Tickets to the Queen’s Jubilee Weekend are Adult £22; Child (aged 4-16) £10; Family (2 Adult & 3 Children) £55 and include entry to the Castle and Garden.
