An astonishing 331 street party applications have been approved for residents across Richmond to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Thousands of families are expected to gather for events around June 4 with road closures, bunting, trestle tables, barbecue food, big screens and bubbly.

At the same time, many pubs, churches and other venues, such as Petersham Nurseries & Café, will be hosting special events.

The figure of 331 is up on the 232 held ten years ago for the Diamond Jubilee – a rise of 99 or 43 per cent.

The enthusiasm for supporting the Queen to celebrate 70 years on the throne appears to have been fuelled by a desire among residents to get together following a two-years of pandemic isolation.

Credit: https://www.royal.uk/platinum-jubilee-central-weekend

Richmond Council boosted the party mood by offering grants of up to £1,000 to help people organise local events.

Funds have been set aside by the council to fund parties and commemoration events in May or June, including over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend.

The Platinum Jubilee celebrations will take place over a four-day bank holiday weekend from June 2-5. Last week, the winner of a celebratory Jubilee pudding was announced – a lemon and Amaretti biscuit trifle – and no doubt many of the Richmond street parties will be offering their own versions.

There will be town centre closures across the borough on Saturday June 4, including Hampton Wick and Whitton, to mark the Jubilee.

This means Town Centres will be pedestrianised throughout the day to allow for celebration as well as to boost trade for local businesses.

The Council offered £500 grants to residents, voluntary and community groups and local charities, to cover the costs of hosting street parties or taking part inThe Big Jubilee Lunch.

A grant of £1,000 was available for groups hosting larger events such as concerts or looking to create commemorative pieces such as murals or similar art installations. Grants were also offered to schools.

Credit: https://www.royal.uk/platinum-jubilee-central-weekend.

Cllr Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, said: "As a Council we are doing everything we can to ensure people have the opportunity to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee and we want to make it as easy as possible for residents and groups to organise their own events and street parties.

"We have decided that we want to financially help support the Jubilee celebrations in the borough through this grant scheme and I look forward to seeing how our communities decided to mark the occasion.

"We are also supporting initiatives such as The Queen's Green Canopy, with new trees now planted in every ward to mark the Jubilee and we will shortly be unveiling our Jubilee beacon."