# Beaming Queen Elizabeth waves to crowds as Platinum Jubilee celebrations begin
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-06-02
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Queen Elizabeth Celebrates Record-Breaking 70-Year Reign
Meta Description: Join the excitement as Queen Elizabeth celebrates her record-breaking 70 years on the British throne with royal parties and parades
URL: https://financedigest.com/beaming-queen-elizabeth-waves-to-crowds-as-platinum-jubilee-celebrations-beginhtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-06-02t123127z1lynxmpei510iirtroptp4britain-royals-platinum-jubilee-parade-1736815664144-compressed.jpg)

By Michael Holden and Kate Holton

LONDON (Reuters) – A beaming Queen Elizabeth waved to cheering crowds massed outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday as Britain kicked off four days of pomp, parties and parades to celebrate her record-breaking 70 years on the British throne.

Tens of thousands of royal supporters waving flags lined the streets of London for a military parade at the start of the four-day Platinum Jubilee. Millions of people across Britain and the world were expected to watch the festivities, join street parties and light beacons in [honour of the 96-year-old queen](https://www.financedigest.com/in-westminster-abbey-the-deafening-sound-of-silence-to-honour-queen-elizabeth.html "In Westminster Abbey, the deafening sound of silence to honour Queen Elizabeth").

Elizabeth, holding a walking stick and wearing a dusky dove blue outfit that she also wore for an official Jubilee photograph, was [joined by her son and heir Prince Charles](https://www.financedigest.com/king-charles-to-fly-to-scotland-to-join-sombre-procession-of-queens-coffin.html "King Charles to fly to Scotland to join sombre procession of queen’s coffin"), 73, and other senior royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

While the [family waved to the crowds and enjoyed a Royal](https://www.financedigest.com/another-momentous-year-beckons-for-britains-royal-family.html "Another momentous year beckons for Britain’s royal family") Air force fly-past, Louis – Prince William’s 4-year-old son – covered his ears and howled as the planes roared overhead. He later [jumped up and down as Red Arrow jets released](https://www.financedigest.com/santander-to-release-some-pandemic-provisions-as-profits-jump.html "Santander to release some pandemic provisions as profits jump") red, white and blue smoke trails.

Elizabeth has been on the throne for longer than any of her predecessors, and is the third-longest reigning monarch ever of a sovereign state. Opinion polls show she remains [hugely popular and respected among British people](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-employment-sector-set-for-huge-shift-over-1-5-million-people-to-trade-in-full-time-work-for-the-gig-economy.html "UK employment sector set for huge shift: Over 1.5 million people to trade in full-time work for ‘the gig economy’").

[World leaders](https://www.financedigest.com/world-leaders-to-attend-queen-elizabeths-funeral.html "World leaders to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral") including U.S. President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, [Pope Francis and former](https://www.financedigest.com/death-of-former-pope-benedict-overshadows-new-year-at-vatican.html "Death of former Pope Benedict overshadows New Year at Vatican") British prime ministers were among those sending messages of goodwill.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, [neighbours and friends](https://www.financedigest.com/friendly-new-neighbours-belong-barkway.html "Friendly New Neighbours Belong In Barkway") to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth,” the queen said in a statement as the festivities got under way.

“I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me.”

The celebrations began with the Trooping the Colour, a military parade held annually to mark the queen’s official birthday, where 1,500 soldiers marched to military music in ceremonial uniforms of scarlet tunics and bearskin hats.

Later the crowds moved to the Mall, the grand boulevard running up to Buckingham Palace, where in brilliant sunshine they cheered and waved Union flags while a display of modern and [historic planes took place](https://www.financedigest.com/queens-final-resting-place-is-a-small-chapel-in-historic-windsor-castle.html "Queen’s final resting place is a small chapel in historic Windsor Castle") overhead.

Fifteen Typhoon jets spelled out the number 70.

MILITARY PARADE

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](https://www.financedigest.com/loss-of-queen-brings-first-encounter-with-death-for-some-children.html "Loss of queen brings first encounter with death for some children") of her father George VI in February 1952.

Her involvement in this [year’s celebrations](https://www.financedigest.com/tall-marks-its-25th-year-with-celebration-day.html "TALL Marks its 25th Year with Celebration Day ") will be somewhat limited compared with previous major events. In recent months the queen has [cut back public appearances due to what Buckingham Palace calls](https://www.financedigest.com/ford-to-make-call-on-europe-job-cuts-by-mid-feb-as-buyers-circle-german-site.html "Ford to make call on Europe job cuts by mid-Feb as buyers circle German site") “episodic mobility issues. In May, she missed the [opening of parliament for the first time](https://www.financedigest.com/its-time-for-open-banking-to-open-up.html "It’s time for open banking to open up") in almost six decades.

Senior royals, including Charles, and his eldest son William, 39, are [carrying out some ceremonial duties on the queen’s](https://www.financedigest.com/34315plane-carrying-coffin-of-queen-elizabeth-lands-in-london.html "Plane carrying coffin of Queen Elizabeth lands in London") behalf.

Some royal family members were absent on Thursday, including the [queen’s second son Prince](https://www.financedigest.com/saudi-arabias-king-crown-prince-send-condolences-on-queen-elizabeths-death.html "Saudi Arabia’s king, crown prince send condolences on Queen Elizabeth’s death") Andrew, 62, who settled a U.S. lawsuit in February in which he was accused of sexually abusing a woman when she was underage. Andrew denied the accusation.

The palace announced later that Andrew had [tested positive](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-tests-positive-for-covid-has-mild-symptoms-taking-paxlovid-treatment.html "Biden tests positive for COVID, has mild symptoms, taking Paxlovid treatment") for COVID-19 and would not attend a service of Thanksgiving on Friday.

The [queen’s grandson Prince Harry](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-prince-harry-and-wife-meghan-will-attend-celebrations-for-queen-elizabeth.html "UK’s Prince Harry and wife Meghan will attend celebrations for Queen Elizabeth"), now living in Los Angeles with his American wife Meghan after stepping down from royal duties, watched the parade but was absent from the palace balcony, with only “working” members of the family present.

There were artillery gun salutes in London, across the [United Kingdom and from Royal Navy ships at sea](https://www.financedigest.com/offshore-crews-to-strike-on-bps-north-sea-installations-says-unite.html "Offshore crews to strike on BP’s North Sea installations, says Unite").

“It was lovely, everything we hoped it would be. We’re a bit older now, so we were here for the 25th and then the 50th (jubilee). But this was the best one,” said nurse Ian Higgins, 62, who was watching the events in central London.

You feel very proud when everybody [comes together](https://www.financedigest.com/real-time-connect-nyc-where-adtech-leaders-come-together-to-redefine-data-strategies.html "Real-Time Connect (NYC): Where AdTech leaders come together to redefine data strategies") like this,” said yoga teacher Amanda Mackenzie, 51. “It’s really special.”

In the evening beacons will be lit across the country and the Commonwealth, with the [queen set to lead with the lighting of the Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon at her Windsor](https://www.financedigest.com/farewell-to-the-queen-crowds-line-streets-of-london-and-windsor.html "Farewell to the queen: crowds line streets of London and Windsor") Castle home.

The government announced two [public holidays to mark the celebration, which is the first major public gathering since](https://www.financedigest.com/japans-emperor-gives-first-public-new-years-greeting-since-2020.html "Japan’s emperor gives first public New Year’s greeting since 2020") the pandemic and a welcome distraction for many at a time of growing economic hardship.

Among the tributes pouring in from [around the world](https://www.financedigest.com/old-trafford-attracting-not-just-footballers-from-around-the-world-but-also-investors.html "Old Trafford attracting not just footballers from around the world, but also investors") was a video message from former U.S. president Barack Obama that was broadcast on the BBC.

“Your life has been a gift, not just for the United Kingdom, but for the world. And it is with gratitude for your [leadership and the kindness that you’ve shown me and my family](https://www.financedigest.com/spains-grifols-names-current-chairman-as-ceo-ending-family-leadership.html "Spain’s Grifols names current chairman as CEO, ending family leadership") that I say, may the light of your crown continue to reign supreme,” he said.

Not everyone will be joining in the festivities though, including the anti-monarchy [campaign group](https://www.financedigest.com/the-network-group-events-calls-on-the-government-to-invest-in-public-awareness-campaign-around-cyber-security.html "The Network Group Events calls on the Government to invest in public awareness campaign around cyber security") Republic which has put up the message “Make Elizabeth the last” on billboards across Britain.

A number of people caused a brief disturbance by running out in front of marching soldiers on the Mall boulevard before they were dragged away by police. Several were arrested.

(Reporting by Michael Holden, Kate Holton, Natalie Thomas, Lucy Marks and Paul Hardy; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Frances Kerry)


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---