Prime Minister Tony Blair was today unveiling details of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Blair was announcing to MPs detailed plans to mark the Queen's 50-year reign.

The Queen will embark on a nationwide Golden Jubilee tour taking in all regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In addition, she will visit Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia next month, and Canada in October.

During the Windsor Horse Show in May, there will be an equestrian extravaganza featuring 1,000 horses.

It is the first time the Palace grounds, usually the venue for exclusive royal garden parties, will be opened for public concerts.

Tickets for the pop and classical concerts, during an extended June Bank Holiday weekend, are free to people across the UK and will be allocated by ballot.

The concerts - there are 14,000 tickets for each - are being produced and televised worldwide by the BBC and will be shown on giant screens erected near the Palace for people without tickets. Tickets for the Palace concerts will be available free from February 12.

Two of Britain's golden oldie rock stars - Sir Paul McCartney and Phil Collins - are expected to join up for the pop concert of the year in the Palace grounds.

U.S. soul diva Aretha Franklin is also among stars set to play for the Queen, along with possibles Sir Elton John, Robbie Williams, Eric Clapton, Bryan Adams and Stevie Wonder.

Following the pop concert, the Queen will light a beacon signalling the start of a spectacular firework display and a chain of beacons stretching across the UK and the Commonwealth.

In addition, on Tuesday, June 4, there will be a Golden Jubilee Carnival Pageant in The Mall, close to the Palace.

The Queen will attend a National Thanksgiving Service at St Paul's Cathedral, London, on June 4, followed by a Golden Jubilee lunch at Guildhall in the City of London.

Updated: 12:09 Tuesday, January 29, 2002