Record reign: Here's how London will celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II reaches her 70th anniversary on the throne on Sunday, becoming the first British sovereign in history to achieve such a milestone.

She is expected to spend the day in Sandringham, remembering her father, George VI, on the anniversary of his death.

Accession Day will be officially marked on Monday, when the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fires gun salutes at Green Park And the Tower Of London at 1pm.

Then, celebrations will begin properly in June with a four-day bank holiday and a stacked programme of events across the capital and beyond.

Queen's jubilee cards catch the eye of Her Majesty and Candy the dog

Here's how her record-breaking reign will be marked across London:

Thursday 12 May - Sunday 15 May

  • Platinum Jubilee Celebration

More than 500 horses and 1,000 performers will take part in a 90-minute show taking the Windsor Castle audience through history from Elizabeth I to present day.

Thursday 2 June

  • Trooping the Colour

The Queen's traditional Trooping the Colour Parade kicks off four days of historic ceremonies in Horse Guards Parade.

  • Principal Beacon lit at Buckingham Palace

A beacon will be lit at Buckingham Palace at the same time as those in the capital cities of the 53 other Commonwealth countries. Across the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, 1,500 town and cities will also come together to light beacons at the same time.

Friday 3 June

  • Service of Thanksgiving

St Paul’s Cathedral will hold a Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign.

The Queen's Coronation took place on 2 June 1953 following her accession on 6 February 1952

Saturday 4 June

  • Platinum Party at the Palace

A selection of the world’s greatest entertainers are billed to perform at the concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the Queen’s reign. A ballot for tickets will open in February and it will be shown on the big screen in the Royal Parkland at Sandringham.

  • Derby at Epsom Downs

The Queen will be joined by members of the royal family for the Epsom Derby.

Sunday 5 June

  • Platinum Jubilee Pageant

Performers, dancers and musicians will tell the story of the Queen’s reign in London including a ‘River Of Hope’ – made up of 200 silk flags along the Mall.

  • Big Jubilee Lunch

Street parties are being planned across London and the UK. It will mark the end of the Bank Holiday.

Across the weekend

The Queen’s private estates at Sandringham and Balmoral will also be open for residents and visitors to enjoy the celebrations over the long weekend.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrated with new Royal Mail stamps