LONDON – The Indian beer Cobra has been chosen as the sole supplier of suds for British Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee picnic, to be held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace on June 4.
More than 12,000 people will attend this event, which will be followed by a Diamond Jubilee concert at the same venue, the same evening. It will mark the 60th year of the Queen’s accession to the throne of seven countries in 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI.
Cobra draught beer will be served to the guests, accompanying hampers provided by Heston Blumenthal and Waitrose, bottles of water from Hildon and Moet & Chandon champagne. Performers and the audience at the concert will also be able to enjoy Cobra at the exclusive reception at Buckingham Palace after the concert.
Reacting to the announcement, Karan Bilimoria, founder and chairman of Cobra Beer, and now a peer, said: “Given Cobra’s Indian heritage, we feel our presence at these celebrations also serves to represent the Commonwealth.”
Bilimoria added, “We know that this will bring a great deal of pride not just to the UK’s 2.5 million-strong Asian community, but also to the 1.2 billion people in India and the 30 million people of Indian origin worldwide (outside India).”
Cobra Beer is now a joint venture with Molson Coors. The two have recently opened a brewery in Bihar.
Queen Victoria in 1897 is the only other monarch in UK’s history to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee. Following the tradition, a Diamond Jubilee medal will be awarded in various countries and holidays and events will be held throughout the Commonwealth.
