The Queen has greeted overjoyed royal fans after making her first public appearance during her Platinum Jubilee weekend. The 96-year-old walked out onto the balcony at Buckingham Palace following the conclusion of Trooping the Colour.
The event had marked the beginning of celebrations to mark her 70 years as monarch, but Her Majesty was unable to attend the showpiece occasion at Horse Guards Parade due to health and mobility issues that have stifled recent engagements. Prince Charles led the event instead.
However, the Queen did not disappoint the huge crowds who have gathered around Buckingham Palace and along The Mall as she stepped out just before 12.30pm today (June 2). Her Majesty popped out onto the balcony as Trooping the Colour came to an end.
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Alongside the Queen was her cousin Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, who is one of the 17 Royal Family members who would eventually join her on the balcony with her during a special RAF flypast starring 70 aircraft including the Red Arrows. Her Majesty was wearing a dusky dove blue coat designed by Angela Kelly, the same one she wore in a photograph released yesterday by the Royal Household.
After appearing on the balcony, the Queen took a salute from her soldiers as they returned from Trooping the Colour. She inspected the troops from up high with her cousin, who is the Colonel of the Scots Guards.
After the events at Buckingham Palace, the Queen will return to Windsor Castle, where she has been staying since the Covid outbreak. There, she is due to light the principle Jubilee beacon during an event which will see 3,000 beacons lit as part of another event for the Bank Holiday weekend.
Tomorrow, a service of thanksgiving will be held at St Paul's Cathedral. However, it is not clear yet if Her Majesty will attend in person.
Further events will take place on Saturday including the BBC's Party at the Palace with a wealth of celebrities and performers including Duran Duran, Queen + Adam Lambert and Diana Ross on the bill. Then on Sunday, a Jubilee Pageant will be held.
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