LONDON (AP) – A colorful street competition highlighting British diversity paraded through central London on Sunday, the last day of a long holiday weekend in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th throne. Royal fans were hoping to see another vision of the 96-year-old monarch later at Buckingham Palace, where the parade ends.
With the ringing of the bells of Westminster Abbey, a spectacular military parade with 200 horses began the ceremony as they marched through the shopping center to Buckingham Palace. They flanked the golden gold state coach, a horse-drawn carriage that carried the queen to her coronation 69 years ago.
The queen did not participate in the pageant, although a virtual version of her, taken from an archive video of her 1953 coronation, was displayed in the coach’s windows.
Thousands of performers were expected to parade along a three-kilometer (almost two-mile) route, telling the story of the queen’s life with dancing, vintage cars, vibrant costumes, carnival music, and giant puppets. .
The most enthusiastic royal fans faced the humid and cold weather and camped in the mall during the night to ensure the best view of the event. Some came for the celebrities who will be performing, while others wanted to be part of a historic moment.
“It’s part of the story, it will never happen again. It’s a special thing, so if you’re going to do it, you have to go home or go home, “said Shaun Wallen, 50.
The Queen has not appeared in public at platinum jubilee events since Thursday, when she smiled and greeted her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. It has limited its appearances in recent months due to what the palace describes as “episodic mobility problems”. He also had COVID-19 this spring.
Still, he delighted the country when he appeared in a surprise comedy video that opened a concert on Saturday in front of Buckingham Palace. In the video, the monarch drank tea with a computer-animated Paddington bear, and revealed that, like the furry character, he liked jam sandwiches and liked to have them in his handbag.
Diana Ross and rock band Queen led the star-studded tribute concert on Saturday night, which also featured Rod Stewart, Duran Duran, Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli.
Celebrities paid tribute to the Queen’s decades of service in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Prince Charles, his eldest son and heir to the throne, highlighted his mother’s role as a symbol of unity and stability over the decades.
Addressing the Queen as “Go Majesty, Mummy,” Charles said, “Laugh and cry with us, and most importantly, you have been there for us for these 70 years.”
On Sunday, Charles and his wife, Camilla, mingled with crowds at The Oval Cricket Ground in London for a “Big Jubilee Lunch”. Millions across the country also proposed long tables, balloons and picnic food for parties and similar patriotic barbecues.
On Sunday, celebrities such as singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will sing “God Save The Queen” outside Buckingham Palace as the final of the pageant. Many are waiting for the monarch to make a second appearance on the balcony to close the weekend of celebrations.
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Jo Kearney contributed to this report.
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