Royalist or not this weekend marks a four day weekend. If that is not something to celebrate, I don’t know what is. Here are our Jubilee picks.

With the Diamond Jubilee imminent, a national group of country pubs has launched a cake to celebrate Her Majesty’s milestone – with the help of celeb baker Paul Hollywood.

Chefs for Vintage Inns have created the Vintage Summer Cake, a triple-decker sponge cake with raspberries and blackcurrants, summer fruit syrup, cream and blueberry fruit, to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

The patriotic puddings will feature exclusively on the Vintage Inns menu until the end of August and for every £3.95 slice Vintage Inns will donate 15p to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Paul, a judge on smash hit BBC TV show The Great British Bake-off, helped Vintage Inns launch the cake

He said: “As a nation of food lovers, we always rise to the challenge of producing something delicious for a momentous occasion.

“The Victoria Sponge was created in honour of Queen Victoria’s reign so it’s only right we commemorate Elizabeth II with something special and traditionally British.”

BEN FOGLE REVEALS HIS INSIDE KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO HOST A JUBILEE TEA PARTY FIT FOR THE QUEEN

JANE TROZZO GETS SET FOR THE ‘MOTHER OF ALL PARTIES!”…WITH AN UNSUAL TWIST!

New range of exclusive indoor/outdoor table decor prove just the tonic for a season of summer shindigs

Designer Jane Trozzo of quirky home and garden accessories website JaneTrozzo.com (http://www.janetrozzo.com/) has released an exclusive range of personally-designed table dining sets as Brits get set for the “Mother of All Parties”.

COOL BRITANNIA

The stunning New Infinite Rose Cube by OnlyRoses

Show your patriotism this year with OnlyRoses stunning red, white and blue Infinite Rose ‘Cool Britannia’ Cube. The Cool Britannia Infinite Rose Cube is priced at £150

Event: ‘What The Butler Saw…Queens, Kings and all Inbetweens’

· Date: 3rd of June 2012 only – Time: 21:00- 03:00 (last admission at 1:00)

· Place: 66 West Smithfield, London, EC1N 9DY

· Artists: Frank and Nancy Sanazi, Beau Rocks, The Tootsie Rollers, Marnie Scarlett, Jonny Anglais, Living Cake Doll, Nikkita Sablier, Ghoulias Peculiars

DJs: Neoblade (C & D), The Secretary (TG)

· Full details: www.corsetanddiamonds.com and www.whatthebutlersaw.info

· Price: £25 in advance, £35 on the door

Philip Mould & Co’s upcoming exhibition entitled – “From the House of Tudor to British Regency” – a celebration of Royal Portraiture to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Highlights include a painting of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger, as well as a selection of intimate portrait miniatures, which were often secretly exchanged or presented as diplomatic gifts and tell the story of a monarch from a new perspective.

This exhibition runs from 29th June to 6th July, at Philip Mould & Co, 29 Dover Street, London, W1S 4NA.

– Brits to celebrate Jubilee with 200,000 cups of tea, 30,000 scones and enough picnic rugs to cover six football pitches –

As the Union Jack begins to line our streets, the National Trust is busy preparing for the Diamond Jubilee Weekend in the most British of ways – with almost 200,000 cups of tea.

Based on previous Bank Holiday figures the National Trust is making provisions for its Summer of Celebration with over 70 tea parties planned across the country where they expect almost 40,000 litres of tea to be drunk, and over 30,000 scones to be scoffed. The nation is also likely to put away around 85,000 cream teas and more than 11,000 sandwiches as the country celebrates in true British style.

The National Trust – the perfect location for Brits to come together and celebrate all that Great Britain has to offer – will be proudly displaying 7.3km of bunting (more than 4.5 miles) across the Jubilee weekend – enough to wrap around Buckingham Palace 16 times.

More than 23,000* picnic rugs are expected to be sold over the weekend of celebrations – which would cover an area of 41,812 square meters, the equivalent of six Wembley football pitches.

To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Britain’s first budget hotel chain, Travelodge is offering a free UK weekend break to all couples who are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary this year.

Couples who got married in 1952, the year the Queen came to the throne can enjoy a complementary two night break including a traditional English breakfast* at any one of Travelodge’s 491 UK based hotels.

To qualify for the free diamond anniversary room offer couples need to register their details at: diamondoffer@travelodge.co.uk. They will be asked to send proof that they have been married for 60 years. Upon receipt of the requested information a free weekend break will be booked for the couple at a Travelodge hotel of their choice.

Inspired by the Queen’s enduring trimness, and in preparation for the demands of the Jubilee weekend, Harpers Fitness has put together a few tips on how people across the land can get one’s leg, arms and buttocks into Buckingham palace shape.

* Harpers Fitness, which runs over 70 gyms and leisure centre facilities across the country, has used its industry expertise to come up with three specific exercises that would ensure the Queen is in tip-top shape for the exertions of a very special weekend
* With the excitement of the nation building, who knows – she might already be doing them
* The recommended exercises are:
* The Wave: Hold one’s arm to the side of one’s body and raise, so that the arm is held out in front of the body and the elbow is bent at a right angle. With fingers loosely together and a slightly cupped palm, slowly rotate one’s wrist. Repeat with other arm. Aim to do three sets of 20 repetitions
* The Royal Squat: Stand up straight, then lower one’s posterior (crown jewels?) into a sitting position and maintaining a straight back, before slowly returning to the standing position. Repeat in sets of five – remembering to keep the expression on your face regal at all times. To ensure your back remains in the perfect ‘neutral’ position you should consider balancing a crown on one’s head and ensure it doesn’t fall off
* The Downward Corgi: Get on to one’s hands and knees. Pressing one’s hands into the floor/mat, slowly raise one’s hips, while learning back until one’s head, shoulders and spine are all aligned. This should lift one’s knees and make your body form a triangle with the floor/mat. Legs can be straight, although beginners may want to bend their legs slightly for a slightly less intense core workout

For an alternative to Pimms try Stone’s Ginger Lemonade Cup. This alternative cocktail from Stone’s Ginger Wine will put a fresh spin on any street party and is featured exclusively on the back of the limited edition label. Simply pour one measure (50ml) of Stone’s Ginger Wine, per person, into a jug, top with lemonade and add lots of ice. Pop in a few slices of cucumber and your favourite ripe fruits, add mint to garnish and you’ll have the perfect refreshing summer treat.

Graham Norton invites the nation to Party for Parkinson’s for The Queen’s Jubilee

Popular BBC TV Presenter and arguably the nation’s favourite party host, Graham Norton, has issued a rallying cry – urging everyone to Party for Parkinson’s this summer.

Whether it’s a barbecue, street or house party, Parkinson’s UK delete alongside Graham, hopes to encourage people to turn their gatherings into a real cause for celebration by helping to raise funds for the charity.

Though you can turn any event any event into a Party for Parkinson’s, with The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee just weeks away, there is no better time to get the party started.

Graham, whose father lived with Parkinson’s for many years, explains: “Don’t be a party pooper. Get into the party spirit and invite family, friends and neighbours to your very own Party for Parkinson’s for a day to remember.

“Make it happen by hosting your own party, and you will be helping Parkinson’s UK to raise vital funds to improve the lives of the 127,000 in the UK living with the condition.

“Together and with your help, we can find a cure for Parkinson’s,” he added.

To help your party go with a bang, Parkinson’s UK have created some special additions for their free party pack. People really wanting to paint the town blue can also order special downloadable decorations in the charity’s trademark colour.

To find out more or to order your own Party for Parkinson’s pack, please visit www.parkinsons.org.uk or call 0207 963 9319.

Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in style with the help of luxurious British lifestyle brand Scarlet & Argent.

The brand has created a stunning limited edition Jubilee Throw made from beautifully soft 100% Lambswool and inspired by the colours of the Union Flag and the Thames River Pageant. It is available online at www.johnlewis.com and in John Lewis’ Oxford Street store from next week (w/c 14th May).
The Jubilee Throws are reversible and are ideal for throwing over a comfy sofa to watch the Jubilee celebrations on television, adorning a bed or as a patriotic travel rug. Price £160, size 195x120cm, weight 1.1kg.

Each throw is created exclusively by Yorkshire-based Hainsworth which is one of Britain’s most prestigious textile mills and a luxury fabric supplier to the Queen. Its iconic scarlet cloth is worn exclusively by the Queen’s Guards and Prince William even wore it on his wedding day.
The company was awarded the Royal Warrant for supplying Her Majesty the Queen with interior fabrics following the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992.

Only the finest natural materials are used in every Jubilee Throw and every piece is impeccably finished. It is this attention to detail that gives the beautiful woollen lifestyle accessories their exceptional quality, their indulgent textures and a special place in any home.

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate this summer, including the launch of three fabulous new Jubilee Edition versions of ROBERTS’ bestselling Revival DAB/FM radio, in high gloss red, white and blue.

The “Royal Kew Family Package” gives visitors to London the opportunity to enjoy the stylish accommodation and friendly service of the four-star, deluxe, Chiswick Moran Hotel, whilst experiencing the world’s most famous gardens and exploring their royal connections.

In the run up to, and during, Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Kew Gardens has launched a fascinating “Royal Kew” walking tour. Kew guides will introduce families to the history and importance of Kew and unveil the gardens’ wealth of Royal heritage and connections.

Prices for the “Royal Kew Family Package”, which is available from now until 8 June 2012, start from £280 for a family of four (terms & conditions apply). The price includes a two-night stay in an Executive Family Room on a bed and breakfast basis, a two-course dinner in the hotel’s stylish Napa restaurant on one of the evenings and entry to Kew Gardens.1 The hour-long “Royal Kew” guided tour is available daily at Kew Gardens and is free of charge on entry to the gardens. There is a limit of 15 people per tour and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The tour starts at midday and visitors are asked to register with the guide 15 minutes before the start of the tour.

For reservations go to www.chiswickmoranhotel.com

Oxford Street launched a Great British Fashion Flag Showcase with 147 union flags – including 10 dedicated fashion flags to celebrate Great British Fashion – ahead of the HM Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

MOËT & CHANDON CELEBRATES THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE WITH EXCLUSIVE COMMEMORATIVE LABEL

Established in 1743, Moët & Chandon has become the definitive champagne of celebration. The most renowned champagne house in the world has held the Royal Warrant since Queen Victoria recognised the quality of the Champagnes in 1893. This recognition was reaffirmed in 1955 when Moët & Chandon was granted the Royal Warrant by HM Queen Elizabeth II, which has been maintained over the last fifty seven years. Now in 2012, Moët & Chandon toasts this relationship by producing an exclusive Diamond Jubilee Cuvee.