With two royally named hospitals, Queen’s and King George, it’s only fitting we will be celebrating our Queen’s 70 year reign this bank holiday weekend.

Starting on Friday 3 June restaurants at both our hospitals will be decorated with festive bunting while offering Jubilee themed food including jam roly-poly. Our patients will also be treated to a special menu featuring traditional options from the 1950s, when our Queen was crowned, including specialties like corned beef hash.

For hard-working staff caring for our patients while the rest of the nation celebrates, we’ll be delivering Victoria sponge cakes for them to enjoy on Saturday 4 June, while patients will be given scones with jam and cream, or fresh strawberries.

Our youngest patients haven’t been forgotten either and will be able to take part in Jubilee-themed craft activities on our children’s wards.

To continue to recognise this momentous occasion for many years to come, we’ll also be getting involved in the Queen’s Green Canopy, which invites people to ‘plant a tree for the Jubilee’. A tree will be planted at each of our hospitals on Wednesday 8 June.

Kathryn Halford (pictured), our Chief Nurse who will be planting one of the trees, said: “I know lots of people across our communities are looking forward to celebrating the Platinum Jubilee. Our own special touches will ensure those who have to spend it in hospital, and our teams who are looking after them, will be able to enjoy it as well.

“I’m also delighted to planting a tree as part of the celebrations. What a lovely way to ensure we, and future generations, can look back on this special time.”