A number of events will be taking place across the UK this weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
People up and down the country are being treated to a four-day weekend this week to mark the monarch’s 70 years on the throne.
And there will be a series of events for the occasion, from the Queen’s Royal estates to the streets of the UK.
But with the ongoing cost of living crisis, many people have questions over the cost of these events to the taxpayer.
The Mirror has summarised how much the four-day weekend will cost the public purse.
How much is the Platinum Jubilee costing?
The money for the event is coming from several different revenue streams, and some won’t be happy to read a big chunk comes directly from the UK taxpayer - aka us.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set aside £28million of taxpayers’ money for the four-day event, according to the government’s March 2021 budget.
The government promises the money will be worth it though, as it will be a “once-in-a-generation show”.
It will mix “the best of British ceremonial splendour and pageantry with cutting-edge artistic and technological displays”.
The celebration is broken down into several events, such as the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which is costing £15million alone.
The £28million total is being divided accordingly, with some of it going to help revamp venues - such as £3million going solely to support village hall improvement projects in 100 different venues.
The money isn’t all for celebrations though, as £12million has been put aside for new books in primary schools called Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration.
However, it hasn’t been confirmed if this money is coming from the £28million taken from the taxpayer.
That isn’t the only revenue stream, as according to the Platinum Jubilee’s website, more than £22million of National Lottery funding is being made available for the bank holiday.
The website breaks down the following:
- National Lottery Community Fund’s Platinum Jubilee fund is offering grants of up to £50,000 to 70 community projects.
- There are £10,000 grants being offered in the National Lottery Awards For All programme for all 2022 events.
- Arts Council England is offering grants up to £10,000 - The Arts Council has announced £175,000 towards libraries to help them celebrate.
- UK National Archive is offering £30,000 to help the archive sector honour the Queen.
- National Lottery Heritage £7million fund to help natural green spaces flourish.
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