The Queen steps out for Jubilee

The Queen will visit many parts of England during the tour

The Queen will be meeting people across communities in England as part of her Golden Jubilee.

Buckingham Palace says it will be a chance for Her Majesty to say thank you to people for their support over the years.

The tour will begin at the start of May and last most of the summer until early August.

Within that period there will also be large-scale events including the Jubilee weekend in Windsor and London and the Commonwealth Games, which The Queen will open and close.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman told BBC News Online it would help all communities to be involved in the celebrations to mark her 50th year on the throne.

Homes were decked out in flags for the Silver Jubilee

"She did a similar thing in 1977 for her Silver Jubilee to go out and meet people," the spokesman said.

"It is a celebration and to thank everybody for their support."

The Queen's outline itinerary of Golden Jubilee visits in 2002 is as follows:

May

1-2 May: South West of England (including Cornwall, Devon and Somerset).

7-8 May: North East of England (including Tyne and Wear and Durham).

10 May: South East of England (Buckinghamshire and Berkshire).

June

1-4 June: Jubilee weekend in London and Windsor.

7 June: South East of England (West Sussex).

27 June: Visit to the Armed Forces (Portsmouth).

July

2-3 July: West Midlands (including Staffordshire and Warwickshire).

11-12 July: Yorkshire and the Humber (including West Yorkshire and the East Riding).

17-18 July: East of England (including Suffolk and Norfolk).