Street parties and afternoon teas as Scotland celebrates Queen’s Jubilee

Royal revelry: Scots enjoying the Diamond Jubilee weekend. SWNS

The second day of celebrations to honour the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is bringing more fun and festivities to Scotland’s streets.

Bunting and flags are out all over Edinburgh and locals are spoiled for choice with 10 street parties under way around the city.

Street events are being held in the capital’s Ann Street, Lennox Street, Murrayfield Avenue, Mansionhouse Road, Blackforth Road, Old Dalkeith Road, and Prospect Bank Place.

The Blacket Association is holding a party on Alfred Place, Stockbridge Colonies Residents’ Association is throwing a bash on Glenogle Road, and Muirhouse Millennium Centre is celebrating with an event at Muirhouse Medway.

In the Borders, Drumlanrig Tearoom in Dumfries and Galloway is hosting the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch. The event features "food from four nations" to celebrate national dishes from across Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The Big Jubilee Lunch in Angus is seeing friends and neighbours gather together at street parties and public parks to share picnics and join in the royal revelry.

Families are gathering in Aberdeen’s Duthie Park for an afternoon and evening of live music and children’s activities, including an exhibition on life in the 1950s and a magician.

Even south of the Border, the ceremonies have a Scottish flavour with 20 of the vessels taking part in a flotilla along the Thames coming from Scotland. The Royal Barge from the Royal Yacht Britannia, usually docked in Leith, will lead the flotilla carrying the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh along the river.

The line-up of events to recognise the special occasion began on Saturday. Perth found itself at the centre of the festivities as it marked the official beginning of its new city status. The town’s designation was upgraded as part of a series of celebrations to mark the Jubilee. The Perth Kilt Run set a new world record for the largest race featuring people wearing kilts. The five-mile run attracted more than a thousand participants at Saturday lunchtime.

The 105th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) conducted a royal salute at Edinburgh Castle. The gunners sounded 21 guns at noon to commemorate the sovereign’s coronation.

The Scottish Government released a free app to commemorate the Queen’s reign. ‘Queen of Scots’ features video and rare images from Her Majesty’s most memorable visits to Scotland and First Minister Alex Salmond urged Scots to download the app and celebrate the Queen’s service to the Scottish people.

The revelries will continue on Monday. Scone Palace will be hosting a Jubilee day with live music and afternoon tea and picnickers are expected to descend upon the palace’s stunning grounds and gardens to enjoy the scenery and celebrate the day with friends and family. The Academy of Ancient Music, providing the music for Sunday’s River Thames Pageant, will be heading north to Edinburgh on Monday for a performance of Handel’s Royal Music. Residents of Murrayfield Drive in Edinburgh will be throwing a street gala on the same day.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty came to the throne on February 6, 1952 but her coronation did not take place until June 2, 1953.

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