Four days of celebrations honouring Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne got under way Thursday with a display of British military traditions as huge crowds cheered the 96-year-old monarch as she appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Honouring the 70-year reign of this beacon of constancy at the head of the British state, this four-day extravaganza kicked off on Thursday with the Trooping of the Colour, an annual military review that has marked the sovereign’s official birthday since 1760.
The 96-year-old queen is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the first to reach the milestone of seven decades on the throne.
Accompanied by her cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Her Majesty appeared with her family on the balcony to take the salute from the Trooping of the Colour.
Senior members of the royal family including Elizabeth's son and heir Prince Charles, his eldest son William and wife Kate arrived at a military parade on horseback or in an open carriage to huge cheers, while world leaders also sent messages of goodwill.
"Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth," the queen said in a statement.
"I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm."
'A part of history’
Families and friends gathered in bright sunshine on the main grand roads running up to Buckingham Palace, cheering the regimental marching bands, waving Union flags and wearing paper crowns.
Some royal fans had spent the night in tents just to secure a spot outside Buckingham Palace to see the carriages and the queen emerge onto the balcony in a long-anticipated moment, wearing a light blue suit and hat.
"It's probably going to be the only time – or one of the only times – that the queen is going to be able to do this," said Paul Fletcher, 55, who works for the National Health Service and had come with his family.
"It's been 70 years on the throne for the queen. It's never been known before and I don't think it would ever happen again."
Kimber Beasley from the United States called the queen "a great example" for America and the whole world.
"It's a part of history. How many times you get to see this?" she said.
Along the parade's route on The Mall, Union flags hung over the crowd barriers or stuck jauntily from headbands, while some fans wrapped themselves in the flag and painted it on their cheeks with face paint.
Others descended on nearby parks to enjoy picnics and follow the proceedings on big screens.
Several protesters were arrested Thursday after getting past barriers and onto the parade route. The group Animal Rebellion claimed responsibility, saying the protesters were “demanding that royal land is reclaimed.”
Thursday marks not only the start of the Jubilee, but also the 69th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth, who became queen on the death of her father George VI in February 1952.
Queen Elizabeth will not attend Friday's Service of Thanksgiving for her seven decades as monarch after experiencing some discomfort when she appeared at a military parade on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said late on Thursday.
Macron gifts a thoroughbred horse
World leaders congratulated the queen on her record-breaking 70 years on the throne.
French President Emmanuel Macron is gifting the queen, known for her love of horses, one of the Élysée Palace’s prize thoroughbreds as an anniversary gift.
The 7-year-old horse, called Fabuleu de Maucour, escorted Macron down the Champs-Élysées in Paris last month as part of an official ceremony, according to the presidential office.
Macron earlier paid tribute to the queen as having provided an element of stability amid times of war and profound changes in society.
"Throughout these transformations, your devotion to our alliance and to our friendship has remained and has helped build the trust that brought freedom and prosperity to our continent," Macron said in a video message in English published on his official Twitter account.
US President Joe Biden thanked the queen, on behalf of the American people, for her role in maintaining strong bilateral relations.
“On behalf of the United States, congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II on an unprecedented 70 years of service to the UK and Commonwealth and thank you for your friendship to the American people," said Biden in a statement.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
