It's the question on the lips of everyone looking forward to June's historic four-day bank holiday weekend - what will the weather be like for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee?

Whether you're organising a street party, heading to one of the bigger commemorative events or just looking forward to being with friends and family, there's no doubt the entire experience will be much improved with wall-to-wall sunshine, warm temperatures and not a drop of rain.

But will we be digging out the sun cream and setting the barbecue sizzling to celebrate The Queen's 70-year reign?

Former BBC weatherman John Hammond, from digital weather service Weathertrending, suggests there could be reason for 'optimism' around Jubilee forecasts.

While May failed to deliver much in the way of consistently warm weather - with temperatures frequently below average and plenty of cloud - the end of the month and early June suggests there could be a change coming.

The four-day official Jubilee weekend takes place between Thursday, June 2 and Sunday, June 5.

Releasing its long range forecasts for the end of May and the start of next month - the Met Office is also predicting a 'reasonable amount' of fine and dry weather could be on the cards.

While there may be a north west/ south east divide across England between May 20 and May 29 with the best of the weather in the south, it says, temperatures indicate they will return to near average for the end of the month for almost all areas while 'some warmer spells' are also possible at times.

And while the country's meteorological office cautions against giving more detailed, regional forecasts no more than five days in advance - because activity out in the Atlantic that can throw local predictions off-course - it's UK-wide forecast for the first week of June will give Jubilee organisers up and down the country some cause for (an extra) celebration.

From Monday, May 30 - just three days away from the start of official celebrations - the Met Office says trends suggest more 'settled' patterns could be on the way where the weather overall will be drier for England going into the start of June.

This, say forecasters studying ensemble models, will generally lead to 'fine and dry weather' across much of the country, albeit as this is the UK after all, some showers will 'be possible' it adds.

Specifically referring to the start of June, the currently long-range forecast says: "Temperatures will probably be warm or very warm at first but may become nearer to average though mid-June, with some warm spells remaining possible."

From Thursday the south is expectd to have good spells of dry and fine weather and by Friday we should get temperatures of up to 22C.

Although still open to some uncertainty, more settled weather is on the cards for most on Saturday and Sunday with patchy cloud and sunny spells, and only the odd spot of light rain, mainly across the far north. However, the far southeast could see some heavier showers for a time, depending on how a plume of warm air develops over the continent.

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Helen Caughey said: “While it may be an unsettled start for some with showers for northern and western areas, many areas will see generally settled conditions over much of the long Jubilee Weekend, with plenty of dry weather and good spells of sunshine. Temperatures will be widely into the low 20s, feeling warmer in the sunshine, although temperatures will drop off quickly into the evenings.

“The main source of any uncertainty for the weekend itself is to do with how far a plume of warm air to the south encroaches over southern areas of the UK. At present it’s looking like it could glance the far southeast on Saturday and Sunday, which would bring with it the risk of some showers, although the heaviest showers look likely to be contained over the continent.”