Why celebrate? 

Her Majesty The Queen is Girlguiding’s patron. The Queen has had a long-standing personal history with guiding since joining in 1937 at 11 years old alongside her sister, Princess Margaret. The Queen experienced all the fun of guiding and became our patron in 1952 – the same year she took the throne.   

Girlguiding has celebrated every one of the Queen’s Jubilees. So now’s the time to join in for this extra special one, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  

Download our factsheet to find out more about the Queen and Girlguiding.

Beacons

As the Queen is our patron, Girlguiding has been asked to take part in a special beacon lighting ceremony.  Beacons will be lit by Girlguiding members across North East England to mark 70 years the Queen has been on the throne. Girlguiding will be lighting our beacons at 9.50pm, our specially assigned time.  

This is going to be a brilliant celebration for all our members. We will be hosting 7 beacon events around the region.

• Swinhoe Farm, Northumberland
• East Shotton, Durham South
• Redcar beach, Cleveland
• Barney Beck, NYNE
• WYNCHES, WYN and Leeds
• Whiteley Woods, Sheffield
• Worsborough, South Yorkshire

More information about these events are available on the  map below and through the local guiding network in each County.

What else can I do to join in the beacon lighting?

• Make a unit beacon, if you are indoors you could use torches, LED tealights or fairy lights.
• Light a campfire with your unit or friends.
• Give each girl a candle and pass the flame from candle to candle, to mark the service given by the Queen.
• Light a candle at 9.50pm on Thursday 2nd June.
• Attend a local neighbourhood beacon event.

Is there a badge?

Yes! We have a challenge pack to help you celebrate the jubilee, you need to complete two activities from each section and attend a beacon event to earn the badge. Use the pack to help your unit find out more about the Queen and her connection to Girlguiding,  why we name jubilee’s after precious things,  make some tasty treats for a jubilee party and do some traditional activities the Queen might have done when she was a Guide.

Find out what our units have been up to in the photo gallery