KUALA LUMPUR: Major celebrations across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth are expected tomorrow, to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee and her majesty's 96th birthday celebrations.
A statement from the British High Commission said the official celebration in the UK would begin tomorrow with the 'Trooping the Colour' ceremony and 'Horse Guards Parade', concerts, street parties and pageants.
Across the UK, over 70,000 'Big Jubilee Lunches' are expected to take place at homes and local village halls over the Jubilee weekend, and over 10 million people across the UK are expected to be joining the celebrations.
The statement said Queen Elizabeth II had on Feb 6 become the first British monarch in history to achieve Platinum Jubilee - 70 years of reign and service.
However, large scale celebrations are scheduled for June to take advantage of the summertime weather.
It also coincides with The Queen's official birthday which falls on the second Saturday in June.
In Malaysia, Rotary Malaysia District 3300 is organising a dinner tomorrow to light the 'Platinum Jubilee Beacon' in honour of the Queen's 70-year reign and service.
The 'Platinum Jubilee Beacon' will join more than 2,800 such beacons to be lit across the world.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian British Society is holding its 'Platinum Jubilee Charity Golf Day'.
"British armed forces members based at the Butterworth airbase will hold a garden party with staff and families from all Five Power Defence Arrangements member nations.
"The British High Commission will be hosting an official reception later in the month," the statement said.
British High Commissioner Charles Hay recounted that the Queen, in 'Her Majesty's Accession Day' message back in February, expressed hope that the Jubilee celebrations would provide an opportunity to bring together families and friends, neighbours and communities.
"She also renewed her pledge she gave in 1947 to devote her life to service.
"Throughout her 70-year reign, the Queen has been a symbol of continuity, the constant figure in an ever-changing Britain.
"Her unwavering devotion to service to the people in the UK and the Commonwealth has made her one of the most recognisable and respected persons in the world," said Hay.
The Queen had visited Malaysia three times.
"She made her inaugural visit to Malaysia in 1972, attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Langkawi in 1989, and she attended the closing of the XVI Commonwealth Games in in Kuala Lumpur in 1998," Hay said.
Hay will also be planting a tree at his residence, to be part of the Queen's Green Canopy initiative as well as to create a physical legacy of the Jubilee celebration.
