Spectacular military parades, street parties up and down the country, drone and light shows at Buckingham Palace, and a surprising starring turn from Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear: Britain’s four-day Platinum Jubilee extravaganza has been one long party demonstrating the extraordinary popularity of the monarch after 70 years on the throne.
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch only made three brief appearances during the long holiday weekend dedicated to marking her service. But the absence of the leading lady didn’t dampen the nation’s party atmosphere, with millions turning out for patriotic street shindigs, barbecues and picnics in their cities and villages.
The four days of celebrations were bookended by two Buckingham Palace balcony appearances by the 96-year-old queen — one on Thursday as festivities kicked off, and the other on Sunday at the finale of a massive street pageant.
![Troops march on Horseguards Parade during The Trooping of the Color in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP]()
Troops march on Horseguards Parade during The Trooping of the Color in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP
![People pack the Mall as the British Royal family come onto the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP]()
People pack the Mall as the British Royal family come onto the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP
![Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William watch from the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP]()
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William watch from the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP
![The Red Arrows make a flypast after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP]()
The Red Arrows make a flypast after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP
![Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a reading at the National Service of Thanksgiving held at St Paul's Cathedral as part of celebrations marking the Platinum Jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, in London, Friday, June 3, 2022. Photo- AP]()
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a reading at the National Service of Thanksgiving held at St Paul's Cathedral as part of celebrations marking the Platinum Jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, in London, Friday, June 3, 2022. Photo- AP
Crowds erupted into three cheers as the queen waved and smiled on the balcony along with other working royals after the traditional Trooping the Color military parade on the first day.
She then attended a special beacon-lighting ceremony at Windsor Castle that night, but the brief appearances left her tired. She missed a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral the next day.
![Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Friday June 3, 2022 on the second of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP]()
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Friday June 3, 2022 on the second of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP
![Crowds on the Mall watch the Platinum Jubilee concert, taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of service. Photo- AP]()
Crowds on the Mall watch the Platinum Jubilee concert, taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of service. Photo- AP
The queen, who has curtailed her public appearances in recent months due to problems moving around, also skipped the prestigious Epsom Derby horse race and a pop concert staged outside Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
She did, however, delight the country when she starred with a computer-animated Paddington Bear in a comedy sketch played at the start of the concert. The video showed the queen sharing a chaotic afternoon tea with the furry character — and revealing that she stored marmalade sandwiches in her famous black handbag.
The concert, headlined by Diana Ross, the rock band Queen and others, thrilled a crowd of 22,000 with drones flying over the palace that created a giant corgi and teapot in the sky.
Crowds of tens of thousands packed the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace for the climax of the festivities, which saw a huge, colorful pageant parade through central London Sunday,
![Crowds watch the Platinum Jubilee concert, taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of service. Photo- AP]()
Crowds watch the Platinum Jubilee concert, taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of service. Photo- AP
The gold state coach, which transported the queen to her coronation in 1953, led the procession. A hologram of Elizabeth as she looked 69 years ago was shown at the coach’s windows, a poignant reminder of how young she was when she acceded to the throne.
That was followed by 6,000 performers who told the story of the queen’s life along with a parade of vintage cars, double-decker buses, a giant moving wedding cake and huge puppets.
Crowds sang “God Save The Queen” and the queen made her second palace balcony appearance, flanked only by those in the immediate line of succession and two future queen consorts.
It was a closing image that prepared the nation for the future of the monarchy.
![An image of Queen Elizabeth II is projected onto Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of service. Photo- AP]()
An image of Queen Elizabeth II is projected onto Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, Saturday June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of service. Photo- AP
![People parade during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant outside Buckingham Palace in London, Sunday, June 5, 2022, on the last of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP]()
People parade during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant outside Buckingham Palace in London, Sunday, June 5, 2022, on the last of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Photo- AP
![Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowd during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant at the Buckingham Palace in London, Sunday, June 5, 2022, on the last of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The pageant will be a carnival procession up The Mall featuring giant puppets and celebrities that will depict key moments from the Queen Elizabeth II's seven decades on the throne. Photo- AP]()
Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowd during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant at the Buckingham Palace in London, Sunday, June 5, 2022, on the last of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The pageant will be a carnival procession up The Mall featuring giant puppets and celebrities that will depict key moments from the Queen Elizabeth II's seven decades on the throne. Photo- AP
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