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Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. And I'm Sam.

People in the UK are enjoying a four-day holiday as part of the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth

II's Platinum Jubilee. A Jubilee celebrates the anniversary of a special event,

and the word is mostly associated with the royal family. In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her

Platinum Jubilee, commemorating 70 years since she became Queen in 1952. People are doing all kinds

of things to celebrate, from large events at Buckingham Palace and St Paul's Cathedral,

to smaller street parties in towns and cities up and down the country and abroad.

In this programme, we look at the Platinum Jubilee in an unusual way by hearing about a cake

competition to make the official Jubilee cake, the Platinum pudding. And as usual, we'll be

learning some related vocabulary as well. This isn't the first celebration of Queen Elizabeth's

period of time when a monarch rules the country. In 1977, the Queen celebrated her silver,

Jubilee, marking 25 years as Queen, followed by her golden Jubilee in 2002 and her diamond

Jubilee in 2012. But what's so special about this year's Platinum Jubilee is that Queen Elizabeth

II is the first British monarch ever to spend 70 years on the throne. And I have a question about

it Sam. Queen Elizabeth II is Britain's longest ever reigning monarch, but who was the previous

longest reigning before her? Was it A, Henry VIII, B, Elizabeth I, or C, Queen Victoria?

Hmm, I know it's C, Queen Victoria. Okay, I'll reveal the answer at the end of the programme.

As the first monarch ever to have a Platinum Jubilee, many celebrations are being planned for

the Queen. These include an official birthday parade, troopsing the colour, which ends with

jet planes flying over Buckingham Palace, and the Platinum Pagent, a live concert in front of

the Palace featuring music and dancing puppets of the Queen's favourite pets, her corgi dogs,

...