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Royal celebrations in Britain follow a familiar pattern: a national moment such as a jubilee, coronation or royal wedding, often an extra bank holiday, and then thousands of street parties, Big Lunches and beacon lightings in towns and villages. Union Jack bunting, hand flags and a flag on the pole are at the heart of almost every one, and most of it can be reused for the next occasion.
How Britain has marked recent royal milestones
| Occasion | Date | How communities celebrated |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton | 29 April 2011 | An extra bank holiday; street parties across the country |
| Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | 19 May 2018 | A Saturday wedding at Windsor; parties and screenings, no extra bank holiday |
| Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II | 2 to 5 June 2022 | A four-day bank holiday weekend, beacons lit across the UK and beyond, and the Big Jubilee Lunch on the Sunday |
| Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla | 6 May 2023 | Coronation Big Lunches on Sunday 7 May and an extra bank holiday on Monday 8 May |
The common thread is the street party. Neighbours close the road, hang bunting from house to house, set out trestle tables and bring food to share. The Big Lunch, an idea developed by the Eden Project to bring neighbours together, has become a regular part of national celebrations.
What usually happens at royal celebrations
- Bank holidays: sometimes, but not always. An extra day off is announced by the government, usually many months in advance.
- Street parties: councils typically ask for road closure applications several weeks ahead, and some waive fees for national occasions.
- Beacons: major jubilees have been marked with chains of beacons lit at the same time across the country.
- Flags on public buildings: councils and government buildings fly the Union Flag, and royal anniversaries such as the King's birthday and Coronation Day are already on the UK flag flying days list every year.
What's next: the King's 80th birthday
King Charles III will be 80 on 14 November 2028. Milestone royal birthdays have often been celebrated more widely, but at the time of writing no national plans had been announced. We will update this guide when details are confirmed. In the meantime, the King's two birthdays are covered in our King's birthday guide.
Decorating checklist for royal celebrations
| Item | How much | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Union Jack bunting | Roughly the width of each house frontage, plus 10 per cent for droop | Rectangular bunting comes in 3m and 9m lengths; giant 18m bunting covers long runs between lamp posts |
| A flag on the pole | One per household or building | Union Flag at full mast, right way up |
| Hand flags | One per child, plus spares | 9in x 6in on a 30cm pole for younger children |
| Table flags | One per table or every few metres of trestle | The 9in x 6in hand flag doubles as a small table flag |
| Royal-themed decoration | A few strings or table flags | Royal Standard designs work as decoration, not on the pole |
For a typical terrace of ten houses on each side of the road, two or three 9m lengths of Union Jack bunting per side, zig-zagged across the street, gives a full look. Our street party planning guide covers road closures and timings, and the bunting buying guide explains lengths and styles in more detail.
Royal Standard designs
Royal Standard bunting and table flags add colour and a royal touch when mixed with Union Jacks. Because the Royal Standard officially marks the presence of the Sovereign, keep it to decoration and fly the Union Flag on any flagpole. Our guide to the Royal Standard explains why.
Hand flags for children
Union Jack hand flags are the classic souvenir for children at a royal celebration. For schools, nurseries and community groups, hand flag packs make ordering for a whole group straightforward.
Store it for next time
Good-quality bunting and flags last for several celebrations if they are looked after. Take bunting down when it is dry, wind it loosely around a piece of card to stop it tangling, and store it somewhere cool and dry. A flag that has been out in the rain should be dried flat before folding.
Frequently asked questions
Will there be a bank holiday for the King's 80th birthday?
Nothing had been announced at the time of writing. Any extra bank holiday would be confirmed by the government in advance.
How much bunting do I need for a street party?
Allow roughly the width of each house frontage, plus about 10 per cent for droop. Zig-zagging across the street uses more, so measure the diagonals.
Can I fly the Royal Standard for a royal celebration?
The Royal Standard is the Sovereign's personal flag, so the Union Flag is the correct choice for your pole. Royal Standard bunting and table flags are widely used as decoration.
Do I need permission for a street party?
If you want to close a road, yes: apply to your local council, usually several weeks in advance. A party on private land or a driveway normally needs no road closure.
Planning the next celebration? Browse our royal events collection for bunting, flags and table decorations, and the full Union Jack range for a flag to fly from the pole.
