The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is expected to see more than 16,000 lavish street parties across the country.
At first, the British weather threatened to dampen the party organizers’ hopes as the weekend began with widespread showers. But by mid-morning much of the country was enjoying at least one intermittent sun.
Wearing a Union Jack hat with matching sunglasses, Maryam Zamani, a 47-year-old doctor who has lived in Chelsea for more than a decade, admitted that she was “one of those Americans who loves monarchy “.
“This is fabulous; there are no cars on the street, there are a lot of people and the sun has risen for the queen, ”he said from King’s Road. “I work right here, so it’s really nice to be a part of this special day.”
Just for the jubilee
Dee Ali, 43, an artist and friend of Zamani’s, even “forced” her husband, who is American, to fly “only for the Jubilee” from the US where they live.
“It simply came to our notice then. My husband had to pay more in the price of the plane and in renting an apartment. But I wanted to immerse myself in British culture and I couldn’t miss this goal, “he said.
Ms Ali, who is English, said celebrating the jubilee was “part of the fabric of who I am”.
He added: “I tried to buy buns and cream and jam, but it’s all sold out.
“I love the Queen. Since I left England, she has meant so much more to me. It’s about British unity and culture. She’s the epitome of everything I grew up with and am.”
Janine MacKinlay, 79, took advantage of the party as an opportunity to make the turn (again), a look at the heyday of the road to the Swinging Sixties.
“It’s great,” said Mrs. MacKinlay, who has lived on King’s Road for 30 years. “A man was telling everyone how to do the turn. Well, I knew how to do it since the ’60s.
“I’m almost 80. The queen has been there every day of my life, you know. She’s been with us all along: the Cold War, the recession, everything.”