A "HOLOGRAM" version of the Queen waved to crowds from a golden carriage as a £15 million Jubilee pageant took place through central London.
The Gold State Coach, featuring archive footage of the Queen projected onto the windows, led the parade of military units.
Royal-lovers tweeted excitedly about the spectacle, while others were less impressed - noting that the scenes come amid a severe cost-of-living crisis.
"We have the money for hologram queen but not the money to feed starving families?" asked the Angry Scotland podcast.
Journalist Barry Malone was bamboozled, adding: "So a hologram of the Queen drove through London in a golden carriage today. And people waved at it. They waved at a hologram."
Author Sara Sheridan wrote: "They are now wheeling round a hologram of Her Maj in a golden coach.
"On Sky they are interviewing Daleks who have been programmed to say God Save The Queen. Anyone taking part in this has lost their mind."
Guardsmen, Gurkhas, Royal Marines and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment were among the hundreds of servicemen and women who led the way marching along the streets around Buckingham Palace.
The Queen was missing from the royal box but revellers are still hoping she will make a balcony appearance for the carnival’s finale.
Charles spoke about the camaraderie he felt the Jubilee has fostered, telling revellers at The Big Lunch’s flagship event in London he hoped “bickering” does not return after the feeling of “togetherness” across the UK.
His sentiment was echoed by Pageant Master Adrian Evans, who has spent 18 months planning the £15m event, featuring some 10,000 people including a cast of 6000 performers.
Evans told BBC News: “I hope at the end of the day people will feel a great sense of pride in what they’ve seen, enjoyment in what they’ve seen, humour and joy is an important part of what we’re doing today but also connected, that we are much more connected then we think we are.”
The pageant is split into four acts: For Queen And Country with a military parade; The Time Of Our Lives progressing through seven decades of culture, music and fashion; Let’s Celebrate telling the story of the Queen’s life in 12 chapters with corgi puppets and carnival creations; and the Happy And Glorious musical.
Later celebrities will travel in decorated open-top double-decker buses for the decade-by-decade celebrations.
Among the sights will be a peloton of 300 cyclists, riding vintage bikes from across the seven decades of the Queen’s reign, which will travel down The Mall led by Sir Chris Hoy and cycling golden couple Dame Laura and Sir Jason Kenny.
