LONDON –
At the crowning moment for her platinum anniversary, Queen Elizabeth II removed tens of thousands of adoring crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Sunday, delighting fans who hoped to see her on the last day of celebrations marking the monarch’s 70s. years on the throne.
The 96-year-old monarch has cut his schedule in recent months due to mobility difficulties. The queen appeared in public only twice before Sunday – both on Thursday – during the four-day weekend celebrations. Officials said she experienced “discomfort” during the events.
Huge crowds lined the mall in front of the palace for the culmination of a stormy, colorful competition, applauding when the monarch appeared on the balcony with Prince Charles, his wife Camilla and Prince William and his family.
It was an image for history textbooks and a look at the future of the monarchy, with the Queen’s three heirs – her 73-year-old son Charles, grandson William and great-grandson Prince George – next to her.
The bright green queen waved and smiled as the crowds said, “God save the queen.” Her appearance, which lasted only a few minutes, was followed by a pleasant performance of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”.
It was an inspiring finale to a large-scale street competition celebrating the Queen’s life and highlighting Britain’s diversity. Thousands took to the streets of London, many speaking with excitement and pride about their queen and country.
“We were completely shocked. We were all patriotic and excited in a way we didn’t think we would do, “said Veronica Timperley, 75, who was watching with her daughter Kate.
The monarch then issued a statement thanking all those who celebrated her platinum anniversary.
“When it comes to celebrating seventy years as your queen, there is no guide to follow. This is really the first time,” she said. “But I was humble and deeply moved that so many people took to the streets to celebrate my platinum anniversary.
“Although I may not have attended every event in person, my heart is with all of you and I remain committed to serving you in the best way, supported by my family.
Sunday’s competition began with a spectacular military parade featuring 200 horses marching through Buckingham Palace Mall. They circled the golden state bus, a gilded carriage that carried the queen to her coronation 69 years ago. A virtual version of her, taken from an archival video of her coronation in 1953, was shown on the coach’s windows.
After the pomp and procession came a mix of performances celebrating the diversity of modern Britain and the British community, from hip hop and Bollywood dancers to drag queens and Mardi Gras-style floats.
About 6,000 performers marched a three-kilometer (almost two miles) route lined with a sea of Union flags, telling the story of the queen’s life with dancing, retro cars, bright costumes, carnival music and giant dolls.
Some of Britain’s most beloved cultural products were here, from the Far Who in Doctor Who to the elegant Aston Martins of James Bond. Celebrities, including singer Cliff Richard, danced and sang from double-decker open-top buses designed to show the sights and sounds of every decade, starting in the 1950s.
“It’s a great honor to be a part of this. We have the best queen in the world, don’t we? The best country in the world,” said Warren Jobson, a motorcyclist who took part in the parade.
The competition has been watched by about 1 billion people worldwide, organizers say.
The most ardent royal fans endured the wet, cool weather and settled in the Mall overnight to provide the best view of the competition. Some came to see the celebrities who presented themselves – such as Ed Sheeran, who sang his song “Perfect”, while a huge video screen showed pictures of the queen and her family – while others just wanted to be part of a historic moment.
“It’s part of the story, it will never happen again. It’s something special, so if you’re going to do it, you have to grow up or go home, “said Sean Wallen, 50.
The queen did not join her family in the royal lodge watching the competition. Nor did Prince Harry and his wife Megan, who made their first family trip to the UK after retiring and moving to the US in 2020. The couple came to the UK for the big holiday weekend, but largely stayed out of the spotlight.
Thousands of people flocked to the mall after Sunday’s parade in an attempt to see the queen fill the vast space in minutes.
The monarch delighted the country on Saturday when he appeared in a surprising comedy video that opened an evening concert in front of Buckingham Palace. In the video, the monarch was drinking tea with a computer-animated bear, Paddington, a favorite children’s character in the United Kingdom. She revealed that just like the furry bear, she is prone to marmalade sandwiches and loves to keep them in her handbag.
Diana Ross and the rock band Queen led the concert in honor of the stars, which also included Rod Stewart, Duran Duran, Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli.
At the concert, Charles emphasized his mother’s role as a symbol of unity and stability over the decades. Addressing the Queen with “Your Majesty, Mother,” Charles said, “You are laughing and crying with us, and most importantly, you have been with us for these 70 years.”
Millions of people across the country celebrated the occasion with patriotic street parties and barbecues, lined streets with long tables, balloons and a picnic. On Sunday, Charles and Camilla mingled with the crowd at London’s The Oval cricket stadium for “Big Jubilee Lunch.”
Veteran David Godwin, who was celebrating at a street party in central London, said the Queen had “reunited” us.
“It reflects the country and at the moment our country is buzzing and we are at a high level,” he said.
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Joe Kearney, Srdjan Nedelkovic and Maria Grazia Moore contributed to this report.
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