We’re delighted with the Royal support that’s been given to The Big Jubilee Lunch, with Her Majesty the Queen sending us a letter of support at the beginning of the year and the Duchess of Cornwall recently becoming our patron.  This was announced last month, following a visit to Clarence House by children from St Peter’s Eaton Square primary school.

We’ve been launching The Big Jubilee Lunch to the media across the UK, starting with a fantastic early Scout Lunch at Buckingham Palace, hosted by our Ambassador and national treasure Barbara Windsor at the beginning of March.

Since then, Actress Angela Griffin returned to her home city Leeds to join the Lord Mayor for tea and cake and the Mayor of Cambridge Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith launched The Big Jubilee Lunch on a punt draped in the Union Flag on the Cam.  In Liverpool Something for the Weekend Chef Simon Rimmmer drummed up support on Albert Dock whilst in Edinburgh, chef Tony Singh opened his restaurant doors for an al fresco lunch on the rooftop.  In Northern Ireland, the team held a series of events country-wide in collaboration with Volunteer now, promoting The Big Lunch as a way to celebrate local volunteers and encourage intergenerational connections.

We’ve also seen BBC DJ Jo Wiley launch the Kingsmill regional Fun Lunch Tour, which will cover the UK on a 20-stop journey. On its national    roadshow tour, Kingsmill ambassadors aim to get kids involved and ‘put the fun back into kids lunches through creative games, competitions and hands-on activities.

This Monday Barbara Windsor MBE visited Madame Tussauds London to choose some special guests who she would most like to bring to a Big Jubilee Lunch table on 3^rdJune this year. Her lunch companions were Jessica Ennis, Colin Firth and the late Amy Winehouse and Sir Winston Churchill.

Barbara said, “I have some incredible memories of growing up in the East End of London, with everyone coming together for street parties. The Big Lunch is a fantastic way to bring back some of that community spirit of yesteryear.”

Barbara Windsor hosted a special Big Jubilee Lunch at Buckingham Palace today for 60 Scouts and shared her tips for successful street party celebrations. 

With just three months to go until the Diamond Jubilee weekend, Barbara Windsor – the Mayor of London’s appointed street party ambassador – provided a slap-up Big Jubilee Lunch for the group of Explorer Scouts, Scouts, Beavers and Cubs aged from 6 to 18 years old.   We’re delighted that The Scout Association has pledged its support for The Big Jubilee Lunch and Scout Groups up and down the country will be involved in lunches; from Chelmarsh in Shropshire and Gateshead in Tyne and Wear to Bungay in Suffolk and Kenton in Devon.  

Barbara brought to the lunch table at Buckingham Palace some of the key ingredients for a successful celebration – tea and cake, a fabulous trifle, decorations and a sense of fun.

“I loved having lunch with the Scouts today! I gave them some tips on how to host a fantastic Big Jubilee Lunch. They’re definitely going away prepared for the big day and looking forward to having lots of fun!” said Barbara Windsor.

Olly Goodchild, Scout Leader from Lewisham South London, who attended the lunch said, “All the Scouts who met Barbara today were inspired to be part of The Big Jubilee Lunch and I know that Scouts from across the UK are starting to plan hard for 3^rd June.”

He added “Across Britain Scouts and their volunteer leaders will be sitting down with other members of their communities to share a meal, have fun and make new friends; being part of something like this is what makes Britain great and we are proud to be part of it.”

Big Jubilee Lunches are taking place as part of the celebrations to mark the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 over the long weekend 2nd – 5th June.  We’re encouraging people right across the UK to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. This may take the form of a traditional street party or a picnic lunch in small or larger groups.

“Britain has a rich heritage of organising street parties for Royal celebrations.  We’re honoured to be part of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, and we’re sure millions of people will break bread together on 3^rd June, making this the biggest Big Lunch yet,” said Tim Smit KBE, Chief Executive of the Eden Project.

Organisations, groups and charities – including the Scout Association, Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, Neighbourhood Watch, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, Age UK and Age Cymru – are encouraging their collective 15 million members across the UK to host Big Jubilee Lunch street celebrations.

As part of the official programme of activities for the central weekend announced by Buckingham Palace, The Big Jubilee Lunch is encouraging individuals and groups to come together to share lunch with neighbours, friends and family.  This could be a street party, or a gathering in a back garden, park or community hall.

Peter Stewart, Campaigns Director of the Eden Project, said today: “The support from the UK’s membership organisations, community groups and charities has been amazing.  They have issued a rallying call to their members to get involved and get together in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee.

“With less than four months to go to the big day we are confident this will be the biggest Big Lunch ever with many millions more people holding street celebrations with their neighbours to celebrate The Queen’s big day, to have fun and build stronger neighbourhoods.  It will soon be time to break out the bunting again!”

Age Cymru chief executive Robert Taylor OBE said: “We’re passionate about recognising the amazing contribution older people make to everyday life in their communities.  The Big Lunch offers a great opportunity to involve older people in any plans to celebrate.”

“We’re asking anyone organising a Big Lunch in Walesto make sure they invite older neighbours, friends and relatives.  After all if you’re celebrating the Jubilee what better way to find out what life was like 60 years ago – just ask someone who was there!”

 Scout Association chief executive Derek Twine CBE commented: “The Scouts are excited about taking part in The Big Jubilee Lunch. It’s a great way for the fun of Scouting to be shared with a wider audience, and for our young people and the volunteers who work with them to play a really active part in their local communities throughout the UK.”

 We’re delighted by the support we’ve got from organisations to date.  Take a look at some of the other Supporting Organisations we’re working with. 

If you’re from an organisation and would like to find out how you can work with us, please contact Kate.groves@thebiglunch.com or call 0207 255 6455.

Queen Cake made by Big Lunchers 'Lunch with the Pope'

Excitement here in the London office soared sky-high this week when we received a special message of support from none other than Her Majesty, The Queen!

The official letter from Her Majesty states that she is ‘delighted’ that The Big Lunch team are encouraging people all over the UK to hold celebrations in honour of her Diamond Jubilee this summer. The Queen also sent her ‘very best wishes’ to Big Lunchers throughout the country, and wished us all a ‘most memorable and enjoyable event’.

We’ve already heard lots of plans from people planning to celebrate the Jubilee, and lots from people planning some fun and food to simply celebrate their community.

We are delighted to have support from The Queen and Buckingham Palace for 2012, and the letter has certainly taken pride of place in our office!

How are you planning to celebrate Her Majesty’s 60^th year on the throne in your area?

Get in touch at jubileestories@thebiglunch.com to let us know.

And sign up for your special Big Jubilee Lunch pack, including a copy of the Queen’s letter.