How to watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant online from anywhere

Soldiers on parade during The Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade

(Image credit: Getty Images / Tristan Fewings)

The long-awaited national knees-up has arrived as the UK celebrates The Queen’s platinum jubilee. And while Britons across the country chow down on cucumber sandwiches at packed-out street parties, a 3km-long procession will be thundering towards Buckingham Palace in a colourful homage to queen and country. Below we explain how you can watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant online from anywhere, 100% FREE on BBC iPlayer.

Away from home? Use a VPN to watch from abroad

Watch Platinum Jubilee Pageant online

Air date: Sunday, June 5

Jubilee Pageant start time: from 2:15pm BST

Channel: BBC One

Free stream: BBC iPlayer

Watch from anywhere: tune in with a VPN 100% risk-free

Touted as “the biggest, most magnificent, most wonderful event”, the jubilee procession kicks off at 2.30pm in a kaleidoscopic mash-up of music, street theatre, dazzling acrobatics, puppetry and performance.

The parade will cycle through four eye-popping acts on its journey from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace: a military ceremony featuring servicepeople from across the Commonwealth, a journey through the post-war decades including glam rock with a pit stop at Brit Pop, followed by a smorgasbord of kinetic performers reimagining key events from Her Majesty’s reign (including an Afro-Caribbean interpretation of the Coronation).

And it all culminates outside Buckingham Palace with an electric performance from Ed Sheeran, where the global superstar will lead spectators and cultural icons alike in a tribute to HRH with a no-doubt rousing rendition of God Save the Queen.

It’s going to be a momentous, joyful, once-in-a-lifetime event. So read on below for our guide about how to watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant online, and from absolutely anywhere in the world.

How to watch Platinum Jubilee Pageant online FREE in the UK

Cable-viewers will get all their jubilation thanks to BBC One, where coverage of the pageant begins from 13:00 BST on Sunday, June 5 with some pre-event commentary. The actual procession starts at 14:15pm and will air without commentary until the programme ends at around 17:00pm.

Of course, as long as you have a valid TV license, you can watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant online live at the same time with BBC iPlayer. It’s totally FREE and you can also stream related programming like Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen and The Jubilee Pudding: Seventy Years in the Baking.

Away from home?

Use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer from abroad.

You can watch iPlayer on almost all smart devices as well as through your web browser.

How to watch Platinum Jubilee Pageant online from outside your country

Don't let geo-restrictions stop you from catching the once-in-a-lifetime Platinum Jubilee Pageant. If you’re happen to be abroad on the day of broadcast, you’ll find yourself in a royal pickle and unable to access the stream through your usual services. Luckily, you can avoid this situation with the help a VPN.

The best VPN – otherwise known as a virtual private network – offers a simple solution. This software will alter your IP address to make it appear that you're based in another country, allowing you to gain access to your preferred streaming platform, and watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant live or on-demand just like you would at home.

Use a VPN to watch Platinum Jubilee Pageant online from anywhere

ExpressVPN is the world's top VPN right now
Our experts have tried and tested some of the best VPNs on the market so you don't have to and recommend ExpressVPN as their top pick. Not only is it one of the fastest and easiest to use, but this VPN is compatible with a whole host of devices, including Amazon Fire TV Stick, Xbox, Playstation, and iOS and Android devices.

Get an extra 3 months completely FREE when you sign up for an annual Express VPN plan now. If you're not happy with the service within the first 30 days, let them know and they'll give you your money back.

- Try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free for 30 days

Three simple steps to using a VPN to watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant

1. Download and install a VPN - we recommend ExpressVPN.

2. Connect to the relevant server location - launch the VPN app, click on 'choose location' and select the right location i.e. UK for iPlayer

3. Head to the chosen broadcaster's live stream - in this case, head to BBC iPlayer

Platinum Jubilee Pageant timetable of Events

1pm: pre-event commentary as Kirsty Young, AJ Odudu, and Anton Du Beke introduce the pageant live from St James Park.

2.15pm – 5pm: live broadcast of the procession (without commentary) as it proceeds from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace and culminates in a live performance by global superstar Ed Sheeran.

8pm: Kirsty Young hosts What a Weekend! on BBC Two, presenting highlights from the long platinum jubilee weekend.

Daniel Pateman is a freelance writer, producing articles across the cultural spectrum for magazines like Aesthetica, Photomonitor, The Brooklyn Rail and This is Tomorrow. He also provides text-writing services to individual curators and artists worldwide, and has had work published internationally. His favourite film genre is horror (bring on Scream 5!) and he never tires of listening to Absolute 80s on the radio.