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Things to Do in London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022

By Becky Lucas

On 6 February 2022, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-serving British monarch ever, notching up 70 loyal, tireless years on the throne. While initiatives and parties and plaques have sprung up across her extensive queendom ever since, the ultimate commemoration of her service will take place over the U.K.'s special four-day holiday weekend from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5, in line with when her actual coronation took place on 2 June 1953. 

Brits everywhere will be given the Thursday and Friday off work to join in the merriment— including a special 1 a.m. pub closing time. While some big-bill events, such as the Platinum Party at (Buckingham) Palace concert on Saturday, June 4, have already allocated tickets via ballot, and others, such as the Big Jubilee Lunch , require locals to organize their own fun, there are hundreds of events for visitors to take advantage of, too—and plenty with tickets still available (at time of publication, anyway). From flag-waving parades to Royal afternoon teas and Corgi cafés, here are the things to do in London to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The Horse Guards Parade in St. James's Park

Catch the Queen’s birthday parade

The official Jubilee weekend kickstarts with a dedicated Trooping The Color procession in front of the Queen herself at Horse Guards Parade in St. James's Park. A tradition that is believed to hark back to the 17th century, it will see thousands of soldiers perform alongside up to 400 musicians. Tickets have already been allocated to locals or sold out, but you can catch a limited IRL view at The Mall by St James’s Park from 9 a.m., where you can also watch a fly-by from the Royal Air Force at 1 p.m. You might as well pack a picnic .

When: Thursday, June 2, 2022, 10 a.m. - 12.2.5.pm Where: Horse Guards Parade, 13 Macclesfield St, London W1D 5BR, but catch it from The Mall, London SW1A 1AA Website: qbp.army.mod.uk/queensbirthdayparade Price: Tickets are sold out; free from The Mall 

Watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant

More than 6,500 performers, including volunteers, dancers, musicians, soldiers, and essential workers, will march along The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace and around the nearby streets to celebrate the Queen’s reign. Expect music, theatre, circus, carnival, costume, and street art—as well as, more specifically, a giant, multicolored dragon puppet. Several A-list stars and national treasures have also now been added to the line-up, including Ed Sheeran, Heston Blumenthal, Gary Lineker, and Jeremy Irons. The Pageant will tell the story of the Queen’s reign, as well as fly 200 silk flags entitled the ‘River of Hope’, created by hundreds of school children to reflect how they would like the planet to look in 70 years. Don’t expect it to be quiet.

When: Sunday, June 5, 2022, time TBD Where: The Mall, London SW1A 1AA Website: platinumpageant.com Price: Free, no booking required 

A poppy installation at the Tower of London

Wander among the Superblooms

Remember that enchanting bed of ceramic poppies that swept around the Tower of London in 2014? It sounds like something similar may be happening over there for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but this time with real, wild flowers. For this specially commissioned installation no less than 20 million seeds have been planted in the Tower’s 13th-century moat, selected by Historic Royal Palaces among others to attract pollinators as well as curious onlookers. Book tickets to either look down from the Superbloom Public Viewing Path or take the special slide or walkway into the moat itself, accompanied by a special sound installation. Look out for swarms of butterflies in this new burst of color within the city.   When: Wednesday, June 1–Sunday, September, 18, 2022, after which the new landscape remains permanently  Where: Tower of London moat, London EC3N 4AB Website: hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london Price: Tickets must be booked: free from the Superbloom Public Viewing Path; $15 immersive walk through moat; $45 for entry to Tower of London as well

A Jubilee cocktail at the Shangri-La, At The Shard

The Shangri-La's Jubilee Decor

Indulge in a Jubilee Royal afternoon tea

From The Shard to the River Thames, Platinum Jubilee-themed royal afternoon teas are dropping all over London like raindrops in spring. For most, you don’t have to wait until the big weekend itself, and you won’t have to stop booking them after Sunday, June 5 either. Shangri-La, At The Shard is launching its biggest decor transformation by McQueens Flowers from Wednesday, May 4 to celebrate the Queen’s life and travels as well as launch its Skyline Jubilee Afternoon Tea. The new menu will be served in Ting restaurant on level 35 and will include a twist on The Dubonnet, said to be the Queen’s favorite cocktail as well as a royal exhibition. A new Shangri-La Jubilee Celebration two-night stay is also on offer, with partnership-price tickets to the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, or Hampton Court Palace, plus a Jubilee cocktail thrown in. Alternatively, Hobbs of Henley will be serving afternoon tea on the River Thames during two cruises over the weekend itself, one of which will include a ‘A Right Royal Knees Up’ DJ set. For more year-round ideas, head to our pick of the best afternoon teas in London .  When: Skyline Jubilee Afternoon Tea: Wednesday, May 4–Friday, September 30, 2022; Hobbs of Henley Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea: Thursday, June 2–Friday, June 3, 2022 Where: Ting, Shangri-La The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QU  Website: ting-shangri-la.com/afternoon-tea ; hobbsofhenley.com Price: Skyline Jubilee Afternoon Tea: from $80; Hobbs of Henley Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea: from $45

Olivia Morelli

Stacey Lastoe

Maresa Manara

Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with Churchill sauce at The Biltmore Hotel

Eat and drink at Mayfair’s free summer fête

Prestigious neighborhood Mayfair will host its own special street party over the Platinum Jubilee weekend, featuring a communal ‘feast’ served on a 200-foot table with space to seat 300. Decorated with wild flowers, topiary trees, festoon lighting, and lots and lots of one-off Jubilee streaming, it will stretch from Grosvenor Square to Oxford Street all along North Audley Street, which will be closed to traffic for the first time in its history. Cocktails, dishes, and snacks from some of the city’s coolest restaurants will be offered to anyone who stops by, including a Jubilee cocktail from The Beaumont and The Biltmore Hotel’s signature buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. Expect street entertainers, contemporary jazz artists, and live sketcher Anjelica Roselyn all doing their thing.

When: Thursday, June 2–Friday, June 3, 2022, 12 p.m.–7 p.m. Where: 9 North Audley Street, London W1K 6WF Website: www.mayfairldn.com Price: Free

The pop-up Corgi Café will have treats for both canines and humans

Experience a Corgi Café Party

Corgi-loving Queen fans are going to want to book tickets to this first-of-its-kind London pop-up quicker than they can say pocket, wiggle, rowdy, cackle, or murder (all terms that can be used to describe a group of the species—who knew?). Dog-friendly events company Pop + Park has organized the ultimate gathering of the Queen’s famed favorite breed during the week of the Jubilee (the Sunday before). Included with the ticket price will be puppuccinos and professional dog photos and there will be various other Jubilee pupcakes and treats on offer for the canines, while brunch, lunch, coffee, and cocktail menus will be on-hand for the humans. Adults minus their own corgis are also welcome to attend, though tickets are selling fast. 

When: Opening Sunday, May 29, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Where: The Refinery at Bankside, London SE1 0TF Website: tickettailor.com/popandbark Price: Tickets start from $17.50

Peek inside Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms

Portraits of the Queen by photographer Dorothy Wilding will be on display in these central Buckingham Palace rooms this summer, along with the personal jewelry Her Royal Highness wore to sit for the shots. Some of the most important pieces of art in the Royal Collection, by legendary artists such as Canaletto, Rubens, and Van Dyck, are shown in these important spaces. Opening once again a few weeks after the Platinum Jubilee weekend, the public rooms were originally designed for the Sovereign to receive subjects and visiting dignitaries. Look out for the gilded piano, originally given to Queen Victoria.  When: Friday, July 22–Sunday, October 2, 2022 Where: The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA Website: rct.uk Price: Tickets start from $24

London's Victoria & Albert Museum

Take in some culture

From Wednesday, June 1, 2022, The Victoria and Albert Museum will exhibit the winner of The V&A Platinum Jubilee Emblem Competition, along with the nine other shortlisted designs. The Mary Gillick Jubilee exhibition at the British Museum , meanwhile, celebrates the work of the eponymous sculptor who modeled the Queen’s head for coinage in 1953. Or to see some unique artistic portrayals of the royal family, head to agency Fine Art Commissions’ special exhibition, ‘Royal Portraits.’ Finally, ME London is hosting the more alternative ‘The Queen of Arts’ exhibition, in which four eclectic artists reveal special works inspired by and in tribute to the Queen. Plus, Radio Rooftop, the hotel’s roof terrace and one of our favorites in London, will be serving a new cocktail menu inspired by the Queen's reign. Want to stay over? Bring a corgi and you can do so for free throughout the Jubilee. When: V&A: Wednesday, June 1, 2022–end date TBD; British Museum: Thursday, June 2,–Sunday, July 31, 2022; Fine Art Commissions: Monday, May 30–Friday, July 8, 2022; ME London: Monday, April 25–Thursday, June 30, 2022 Where: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL; The British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG; Fine Arts Commission, 19 Ryder Street, St James’s, London, SW1Y 6PX; ME London Hotel, 336-337 Strand, London WC2R 1HA Website: platinumjubilee.gov.uk/emblem-design ; platinumjubilee.gov.uk/mary-gillick-jubilee-exhibition ; fineartcommissions.com ; melondonhotel.com Price: V&A and British Museum exhibition prices have yet to be announced, check websites to book tickets; Fine Arts Commission and ME London exhibitions are free

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7 Places You Can Visit in London That Were Meaningful to Queen Elizabeth

Mourners gathered outside the monarch's official residence and lined up at length at Westminster Hall, where she will lay in state for four days, but the sites are far from the only significant spots in the city

Mackenzie Schmidt is the Home and Travel Editor for PEOPLE. She's worked at PEOPLE for over five years as a writer and editor on the Lifestyle team.

Thousands of visitors have been gathering outside Buckingham Palace and lining up for hours outside the Palace of Westminster in order to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II. But the sites are far from the only places in London that hold special significance in the life of the late monarch.

The Queen, who died on Thursday at age 96 at her castle in Scotland , was transported to Buckingham and then on to Westminster, where she will lie in state for four days. Members of the public were admitted to the building starting at 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

Those unable to wait in the now-miles-long queue might consider visiting the Queen's birthplace, her childhood home or even her favorite shops. Here are just a few of the places that were near and dear to the moarch.

Westminster Abbey

At age 21 in 1947, Queen Elizabeth married Lt. Philip Mountbatten at the world-famous church near the Thames River. Just a few years later, she was crowned there. Throughout the years she's celebrated countless significant events here, including the wedding of her grandson Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Another of London's most magnificent religious buildings was the site of many significant services, including those marking the Queen's Silver, Gold, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees. Her son King Charles also wed Princess Diana here in 1981.

17 Bruton Street

The Queen's birthplace no longer stands at this address as it did in on April 21, 1926, but visitors can still stop by the site that was once a family townhouse. Today it's Hakkasan Mayfair, a trendy Chinese restaurant and cocktail bar.

145 Piccadilly

One of her childhood homes is also no more. It was destroyed by a bomb in World War II. The address has also been changed to 1 Hamilton Place, and the site is now occupied by the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel .

Clarence House

Queen Elizabeth lived at Clarence House, which is a part of St. James's Palace just a short distance from Buckingham Palace, with her husband Prince Philip and their son Charles. Princess Anne was also born here. After Elizabeth ascended the throne, the residence became home to the Queen Mother and Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margaret. King Charles and his wife Camilla, now Queen Consort, have also called Clarence House home.

The Queen's Gallery

Located inside Buckingham Palace, this art-filled space was created by Queen Elizabeth , who chose to share the vast collection of works she'd inherited in the Royal Collection with the public in 1962. It's still open to visitors today.

The Queen's Favorite Shops

Queen Elizabeth gave many of London's finest purveyors of everything from clothing to cars to tea her official seal of approval, known as Royal Warrants. Quintessential British department store Selfridges, above, is one such warrant holder, as are Fortnum & Mason's tea room in Piccadilly and the pharmacy chain Boots.

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Plan your visit.

The Queen's House is free to visit. We recommend  booking tickets online  in advance to guarantee entry and receive updates before your visit, but you can normally also turn up on the day.

Use the  booking calendar  to select your visit date and entry time, then select the number of tickets you require and click 'Add to basket'. Your tickets will be sent to you by email once you've completed your booking.

As well as our free galleries, the Queen's House also hosts a number of special exhibitions and new displays throughout the year. These are included as part of your entry ticket.

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The nearest places to eat and drink are in the National Maritime Museum, just two minutes' walk from the Queen's House.

The Parkside Café is a bright and airy space at the National Maritime Museum, with expansive views of Greenwich Royal Park. There is plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor. Grab a hot or cold drink, and a selection of sandwiches and cakes - perfect for a picnic in the park.

Eating and drinking in Greenwich

Download a free map to help guide you round the historic buildings. A range of audio guides are also available to help you make the most of your visit.

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Find the perfect gift for art lovers, from books and prints to royal souvenirs and keepsakes. Visit us on site or shop online.

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Find useful information about facilities and access at the Queen's House, including guidance for disabled visitors coming to any of our sites.

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Occasionally some areas of the Queen's House will be closed for private events or in order to care for the building and objects on display. Find a list of upcoming Queen's House closures here .

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The True Story of How the Kennedys Met the Queen

What really happened the day the first couple came to Buckingham Palace.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Here's what really went down.

According to America's Queen , a biography of Jackie Kennedy by Sarah Bradford, there was some initial hesitation in inviting Jackie's sister Princess Lee Radziwill and her brother-in-law Polish Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł to the event.

Traditionally, divorcées were not invited to State Dinners at Buckingham Palace—Stan was Lee's second husband; Lee was Stan's third wife—but the royals eventually relented and extended an invitation to Jackie's relatives. After all, this was only a banquet and not an official State Dinner.

But the Queen "had her revenge," at least according to Jackie's friend, writer Gore Vidal: Princess Margaret and Princess Marina, two attendees Jackie had specifically requested, were not invited to the party.

Jackie apparently found the guest list less than scintillating. "No Margaret, no Marina, no one except every Commonwealth minister of agriculture they could find," she reportedly told Vidal. Jackie also told him that while Prince Philip was "nice but nervous," the Queen was "pretty heavy-going."

Per Hello Goodbye , a chronicle of "remarkable meetings" by Craig Brown, "When Vidal repeats this to Princess Margaret some years later, the Princess loyally explains, 'But that's what she's there for .'"

Perhaps these rumors of name-calling and drama-filled dinners are just that: rumors. After all, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan described the evening in his diary as "very pleasant." That exact phrase was also used by Kennedy's chief of protocol, Angier Biddle Duke, when he spoke about the night in a 1964 interview. "It was a delightful evening," he said , "very pleasant, very charming, very attractive evening! I think everybody enjoyed it very much."

And the president himself wrote kindly of the evening in a birthday note to the Queen. "May I also at the same time say how grateful my wife and I are for the cordial hospitality offered to us by your Majesty and Prince Philip during our visit to London last Monday," he said . "We shall always cherish the memory of that delightful evening."

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Unfortunately, Kennedy never made it back to Buckingham Palace. He was assassinated in Dallas in November of 1963. Prince Philip attended the funeral .

In the years following JFK's death, the British government established the Kennedy Memorial Trust , which operates in two parts: a physical memorial in Runnymede, England (the site of the sealing of the Magna Carta) and a scholarship for British post-graduates attending either Harvard or MIT.

“The unprecedented intensity of that wave of grief, mixed with something akin to despair, which swept over our people at the news of President Kennedy’s assassination, was a measure of the extent to which we recognized what he had already accomplished, and of the high hopes that rode with him in a future that was not to be," Queen Elizabeth said at the dedication of the Runnymede site.

Jackie attended that ceremony with her brothers-in-law Bobby and Ted Kennedy and her children, Caroline, then 7, and John, then 4. As they stood beside the memorial, John John held his mother's hand on one side and Prince Philip's on the other.

The modest gift Kennedy presented to the Queen during his first and only meeting, a signed picture in a silver Tiffany's frame, was displayed publicly for the first time at Buckingham Palace over the summer.

As the digital director for Town & Country, Caroline Hallemann covers culture, entertainment, and a range of other subjects 

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Queen's Walk

Take a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Thames as it winds through the capital.

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Following the wide pedestrianised Queen’s Walk promenade along the river between Lambeth and Blackfriars Bridges, you can take in some of the finest views in the city and marvel at several iconic London landmarks along the way. There are also all kinds of interesting pop-ups to visit,  riverside terraces to relax at, art installations and monuments to admire and buskers to entertain you along the route too!

A relaxed stroll from Lambeth Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge should take about 30 minutes (much longer if you choose to stop and enjoy the sights!).

You can also continue your walk onwards into neighbouring Bankside or cross the river and admire the South Bank skyline from the opposite side of the river. A romantic stroll at sunset is the perfect time to come as most of the Queen's Walk in South Bank looks west right onto the setting sun.

Prominent stops along the Queen’s Walk that are not to be missed include:

Oxo Tower Wharf   A distinctive riverside landmark from the 1930s. Walk out onto one of the river piers for a different perspective on the river! The Oxo Tower has several places to grab a coffee to go while you enjoy the walk.

Observation Point and Ernie’s Beach   Stop at this unique vantage point at the foot of a major bend in the river and marvel at one of the best riverside views of St Paul’s Cathedral. When the river tide is low you can also get down to the water and do a spot of mudlarking on Ernie’s Beach .

National Theatre and Waterloo Bridge There are plenty of places in front of the iconic Brutalist landmark National Theatre to take a seat and soak up the scene. The theatre also has a great choice of street food, a coffee shop and bars if you want to stop for refreshments. Beneath Waterloo Bridge in front of the BFI cinema look out for the long-running South Bank Book Market (open during the daytime on dry days). Fars. For a different perspective on the river it’s also worth taking the stairs up onto the bridge itself to look at the view, immortalised in The Kinks' song Waterloo Sunset.

Southbank Centre Another Brutalist landmark, there’s always something happening in and around the Southbank Centre . Look out for pop-ups, food trucks and art installations along the riverfront and take your pick from plenty of cafes and bars . On the way stop to watch the skaters at the South Bank Skate Park trying out some tricks.

Jubilee Gardens and the London Eye One of London’s most-loved icons, the Queen’s Walk is a super spot from which to admire the view of the London Eye . Selfie spots abound, whether it’s from underneath the wheel or from the lush Jubilee Gardens.

Westminster Bridge  Even more photo opportunities await at Westminster Bridge where you’ll find one of the best views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The Queen’s Walk is a super popular angle from which to get a photo, although you can also escape the crowds and capture a shot with a little extra elevation from the garden at the St Thomas Hospital (access the gardens from just off Westminster Bridge).

Covid Memorial Wall and the Albert Embankment The stretch of the Queen’s Walk between Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Bridge is known as the Albert Embankment. In 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic, this stretch of the river became the Covid Memorial Wall when volunteers informally began to create a monument to those who died from Covid. There are now hundreds of thousands of hand-painted hearts spanning the length of the wall, representing all the many lives lost. There are several benches along this section of the walk to take a rest and enjoy the view, plus a café and coffee truck next to the Lambeth Bridge.

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Queenhithe: An Anglo-Saxon Dock And A Wonderful Mosaic

The South bank of the river in London is very popular for a weekend wander and for obvious reasons: the Globe, Tate Modern and Borough Market to name but a few sights.

I would however also recommend the less well-trodden North bank between Tower Bridge and Blackfriars. It is usually a bit quieter and also has many historical secrets and surprises to discover.

One of those sites is Queenhithe Dock. It has a fascinating history and a 30m long mosaic laying out a timeline of the city’s tumultuous history. 

Queenhithe Dock

Queenhithe Dock can be found here. 

The name means ‘The Queen’s Dock/Wharf’ and it is the only surviving Anglo-Saxon dock, not only in London but in the whole world. 

Archeological evidence of Roman quays has been found here but it was in 886AD when Alfred the Great defeated the Vikings and reoccupied the old Roman city when the dock’s life truly began.

Alfred established ‘Ethelred’s Hythe’ here as a trading shore where goods were sold directly from boats. The area around the dock was among the earliest parts to be re-founded and charters date the dock to 889AD. 

Various wooden revetments going back through the Anglo Saxon period have been uncovered here, preserved by the waterlogged, anaerobic conditions in the mud and silt. 

It became known as ‘Queenhithe’ in the early 12th century when Queen Matilda, wife of Henry I, was granted duty payments from the dock. 

By the 13th century it had become the principal dock in London for foodstuffs, particularly grain, but its usage started to decline in the 15th century as better facilities could be found downriver at Billingsgate for larger ships.

At low tide you can still spot the remains of 19th century barge beds. These were used to level and flatten the foreshore for flat bottomed barges. 

Today the dock is a scheduled ancient monument, you can see its Historic England list entry here .

The Queenhithe Mosaic was installed from 2011 to 2014 by 300 artists and volunteers. Experts, led by Tessa Hunkin, worked alongside local residents and school children.

It tells the history of Queenhithe and London from the Romans…

… through the medieval period and key events such as the Battle of Hastings…

… right up to the 21st century and the creation of the mosaic.

What To Look Out For

The Thames is the reason London exists where it does and has always been at the heart of London’s story, so you will see that the Thames runs through the middle of the entire 30 metre mosaic. Spot also London Bridge crossing over it, the only bridge over the Thames in central London until 1750. 

Incorporated into the design are pottery, materials and shells found on the foreshore here relevant to the timeline, each item dated by archaeologist Mike Webber. For example, the Tudor section is lined with Tudor tiles. 

It contains depictions of London’s major disasters: the Great Fire, the Great Plague and the Blitz. 

Key figures from the city’s history appear such as Shakespeare and Dick Whittington. 

I also loved the depictions of the flora and fauna of the river.

A historic site, with a fantastic bit of artwork and a lovely stop along the way on a walk along the North bank.

Thank you for reading! You can browse through more of my blog posts here:

15 Amazing Overlooked Details To Spot At Westminster Abbey

Fen Court And A Powerful Sculpture On The Slave Trade

12 Amazing Little Details To Spot Inside St Paul’s Cathedral

8 Fascinating Details To Spot At St Dunstan-In-The-West

Share this:, 7 thoughts on “queenhithe: an anglo-saxon dock and a wonderful mosaic”.

Brilliant report and images of the Queenhithe Mosaic. Will visit on our next weekend trip booked in March – thank you. Chris.

Brilliant as always😍thank you so much! I‘ll visit this site the next time I’m in London. Love this city and you help immensely to understand it💗all the best for you⭐️Eva

Love the wagtails. Will definitely visit this stretch.

Really cool. A genuine hidden gem.

Totally fascinating as always Jack! As a born Londoner (west end) there is so much still to learn and see. Looking forward to doing that once we return from across the channel.

Thank you. Great article. Love learning more about the history of my great city, which I feel so proud to belong to

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UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

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Blood tests for diagnosing dementia to be offered in UK trial

4 April 2024

Thousands of people in the UK are to take part in countrywide trials to identify accurate and quick blood tests that can diagnose dementia, led by research teams at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Dementias Platform UK, based at the University of Oxford.

The trials will capitalise on recent breakthroughs in potential dementia blood tests to generate the evidence needed for them to be used in the NHS within the next 5 years.

Together, the research teams make up the Blood Biomarker Challenge - a multi-million-pound award given by Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, the National Institute for Health and Research and Gates Ventures, including £5m raised by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. The project aims to revolutionise dementia diagnosis.

Both teams will recruit participants from sites spread across the country, to ensure their findings are applicable to the whole of the UK’s diverse population.

Timely and accurate diagnosis of the diseases that cause dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, is crucial as it means people can access vital care and support and take part in medical research. This will be even more imperative if new treatments are approved for use in the NHS, as these work best for people in the earliest stage of their disease. 

Currently, people are usually diagnosed using memory tests and brain scans. These are less accurate than ‘gold standard’ tests like PET scans or lumbar punctures, which can confirm what type of dementia they have. However, only 2% of people can access these specialist tests.

In recent years, a number of different blood tests that can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia have shown very promising results in research settings. But they have yet to be tested widely in clinical settings in the UK. 

Led by Professor Jonathan Schott (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, honorary consultant neurologist at UCLH, and Chief Medical Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK) and Dr Ashvini Keshavan (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), the Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis and Plasma p-tau217 (ADAPT) team will focus on the most promising biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, called p-tau217.

This reflects levels of two hallmark proteins found inside the brain in Alzheimer’s disease – amyloid and tau. The researchers will carry out a clinical trial to see whether measuring p-tau217 in the blood increases the rate of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease both in people with early dementia, but also in those with mild, progressive problems with memory.

Professor Schott said: “An early, accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is already important, allowing people to access appropriate care and medications. If, as we hope, new treatments that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease become available soon, then this will be vital.

"This would pave the way for fair and equitable access to new and potentially life-changing treatments to all who might benefit.”

The Real World Dementia Outcomes (READ-OUT) team will be led by Dr Vanessa Raymont, Associate Director at Dementias Platform UK and a Senior Clinical Researcher at the University of Oxford, alongside other researchers including some from the University of Cambridge.

They will test multiple existing and novel blood tests, looking at a range of types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies. The researchers will also look at whether blood tests can help detect these diseases at various stages.

Dr Raymont said: “Since I first stepped into a memory clinic 30 years ago there has thankfully been a shift in the way society thinks about dementia. There was previously a feeling that this was just another part of ageing, but now we’re seeing that people want to know more about their condition and they want a diagnosis as it helps them access the support they need.

"Both my parents lived with dementia so I know firsthand the devastation this disease causes, and how a timely and accurate diagnosis can benefit people and their families.”

These complementary approaches will maximise the chances of providing the evidence needed to prove that blood tests are ready for use in the NHS, and will pave the way for them to be made available within the next 5 years.

With more than half of all local authority districts in England failing to meet the government’s target dementia diagnosis rate of 66.7%, and with new drugs on the horizon which appear to slow early Alzheimer’s disease, experts from both charities and the research teams agree that change is needed.

Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influencing at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “At the moment only 2% of people with dementia can access the specialised tests needed for a diagnosis, leading to unnecessary delays, worry and uncertainty. Blood tests are part of the answer to this problem – they’re quick, easy to administer and cheaper than current, more complex tests.

"I’ve spent decades working in research and the NHS and, after years of slow progress, it feels like we’re on the cusp of a new chapter on how we treat dementia in this country."

And Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, added: “We’ve seen the enormous potential that blood tests are showing for improving the diagnostic process for people and their loved ones in other disease areas. Now we need to see this same step-change in dementia, which is the greatest health challenge facing the UK.

“It’s fantastic that through collaborating with the leading experts in the dementia community, we can look to bring cutting-edge blood tests for diagnosing dementia within the NHS. And this will be key to widening access to groundbreaking new treatments that are on the horizon.”

• Professor Jonathan Schott’s academic profile
• Dr Ashvini Keshavan’s academic profile
• Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
• UK Dementia Research Institute
• Dr Vanessa Raymont's academic profile
• Dementias Platform UK
• University of Oxford
• Alzheimer's Research UK
• Alzheimer’s Society
• National Institute for Health and Research
• Gates Ventures
• Credit:  solarseven  (iStock)

King Charles ‘raring to go’ on tour of Australia after 'positive' start to cancer treatment

King Charles has reportedly ordered aides to step up plans for his two-week state visit to Australia.

Charles, 75, is said to be "over the moon" and "raring to go" after starting cancer treatment in the winter .

He is hoping to return to Australia with Queen Camilla in October and wants to visit New Zealand and Samoa. However, a stop in Fiji has been ruled out.

It is expected the royal tour will feature "significant downtime" to allow the King to lead the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

A Palace insider told The Sun: "The King is raring to go after a significant amount of time off due to his cancer diagnosis.

"He knows he can't hang around and is feeling extremely positive after tests meant he could attend the Easter Sunday service and spend time meeting the public, which he has missed.

"Although his doctors are keeping an eye on his health, he's itching to take the reins and get back to his public role as Head of State.”

Charles also wants to be at the Trooping the Colour and the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France in June.

It comes after the King thrilled hundreds of royal fans at Windsor after making a public appearance on Easter Sunday .

He was cheered and applauded as he emerged from St George's Chapel with the Queen to cries of "Happy Easter!"

Urged by one bystander to "Get well soon!" Charles quipped "I'm doing my best!" as he brushed off guidance and shook hands with the crowds.

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