At the coronation of her platinum jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday greeted tens of thousands of adored crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, delighting fans waiting to see her during the last day of the festivities. they marked the monarch’s 70th birthday. years on the throne.
The 96-year-old monarch has reduced her hours in recent months due to difficulty moving. Prior to Sunday, the queen had only appeared in public twice, both on Thursdays, during the four-day holiday weekend celebrations.
Officials said he experienced “discomfort” during the events.
Huge crowds lining the mall outside the palace for the climax of a bustling and colorful contest cheered as the monarch stepped out onto the balcony with Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and Prince William and his family. .
The queen makes a surprise appearance on the balcony of the palace
It was an image for the history books and a vision of the future of the monarchy, with the queen’s three heirs: her 73-year-old son Charles, great-grandson William and great-grandson Prince George, by her side. .
The queen, dressed in bright green, greeted and smiled after the crowd sang “God Save the Queen.” Her appearance, which lasted only a few minutes, was followed by a pleasing performance for ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” audience.
It was an exhilarating end to a great street contest celebrating the Queen’s life and highlighting British diversity. Thousands took to the streets of London, many talking excitedly and proudly about their queen and her country.
The queen appeared alongside other members of the royal family at the end of her platinum jubilee celebrations. (AP)
“We were completely baffled. We all came in patriotic and excited in a way we didn’t think we would,” said Veronica Timperley, 75, who saw her daughter Kate.
The monarch then issued a statement thanking all those who celebrated their platinum jubilee.
“When it comes to marking seventy years as queen, there’s no guide to follow. It’s really the first one,” he said.
“But I feel very humbled and moved that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my platinum jubilee.
Soldiers parade during the Platinum Jubilee Competition in front of Buckingham Palace in London. (AP)
“Although I may not have attended all the events in person, my heart has been with all of you, and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, with the support of my family.”
Sunday’s pageant began with a spectacular military parade with 200 horses marching through the mall to Buckingham Palace. They flanked the Golden State Coach, a golden carriage that carried the queen to her coronation 69 years ago. A virtual version of her, taken from an archive video of her 1953 coronation, was displayed in the coach’s windows.
After the pomp and prestige came a mix of acts celebrating the diversity of modern Britain and the Commonwealth, from hip hop and Bollywood dancers to drag queens and Mardi Gras-style floats.
About 6,000 performers marched along a three-kilometer route with a sea of Union flags, telling the story of the queen’s life with dancing, vintage cars, vibrant costumes, carnival music and giant puppets.
Diana Ross performs at the Platinum Jubilee concert. (AP)
Some of Britain’s most beloved cultural exports were here, from the Daleks to “Doctor Who” to the sleek Aston Martins of James Bond. Celebrities, such as singer Cliff Richard, danced and sang from double-decker buses designed to represent the sights and sounds of every decade, from the 1950s onwards.
“It’s a great honor to be a part of this. We have the best queen in the world, right? The best country in the world,” said Warren Jobson, a motorcyclist who took part in the parade.
The event was seen by about a billion people worldwide, according to organizers.
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 to see the celebrities who performed, such as Ed Sheeran, who sang her song “Perfect” while a large video screen showed pictures of the queen and her family, while others only wanted to be part of ‘a historic moment.
The image of Queen Elizabeth II is seen in a golden carriage during the platinum jubilee pageant. (AP)
“It’s part of the story, it’s never going to happen again. It’s something special, so if you’re going to do it, you have to go home or go home,” said Shaun Wallen, 50.
The queen did not join her family at the royal pole watching the pageant. Neither did Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, who made their first family trip to the United Kingdom since leaving the royal office and moved to the United States in 2020.
The couple came to the UK during the big holiday weekend, but for the most part stayed out of the spotlight.
Thousands rushed to the mall after the parade ended on Sunday to try to see the queen, filling the huge expanse in a matter of minutes.
On Saturday, the monarch delighted the country when she appeared in a surprise comedy video that opened a nightly concert in front of Buckingham Palace. In the video, the monarch had tea with a computer-animated Paddington bear.
He revealed that, like the furry bear, he really liked jam sandwiches and liked to keep them in his handbag.
Members of the local community take part in the big jubilee lunch at ‘The Long Table’. (AP)
Diana Ross and rock band Queen led the star-studded tribute concert, which also featured Rod Stewart, Duran Duran, Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli.
Charles highlighted his mother’s role as a symbol of unity and stability over the decades at the concert.
Addressing the Queen as “Go Majesty, Mummy,” Charles said, “You laugh and cry with us, and most importantly, you have been there for us for these 70 years.”
Millions of people across the country marked the occasion with patriotic street parties and barbecues, lining the streets with long tables, balloons and picnic food.
On Sunday, Charles and Camilla mingled with the crowd at The Oval Cricket Ground in London for a “Big Jubilee Lunch”.
Veteran David Godwin, who was holding a street party in central London, said the Queen “has brought us back together”.
“She reflects the country and right now the country is boiling and we are up to it,” he said.