UK gears up to celebrate Queen's Platinum Jubilee

The UK is gearing up to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, with preparations underway for year-long celebrations to mark 70 years of the queen's reign.

Celebrations throughout the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world will culminate in a four-day bank holiday weekend in June.

Platinum Jubilee Pageant Master, Adrian Evans, said a huge parade down the iconic Mall, which Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, and a finale event on a stage outside the palace, will be the highlight of weekend celebrations to honour the historic milestone.

It is not yet known if the Queen will attend that finale event in person.

"We very much hope so," Evans said.

The Queen, who is 95, will be the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

IMAGE: AP