Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee 2022: Queen says she is 'deeply touched' by jubilee celebration
The queen is the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.
The U.K. threw a once-in-a-generation celebration for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.
The 96-year-old queen is the first British monarch in history to reach a Platinum Jubilee, which marks 70 years on the throne.
Elizabeth ascended to the throne on Feb. 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI.
The queen's Platinum Jubilee celebration included everything from Trooping the Color to a National Service of Thanksgiving, a star-studded concert led by Diana Ross, thousands of lunches and street parties across the country and a final appearance by the queen herself.
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George, Charlotte and Louis make surprise carriage appearance
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, the children of Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, made their debut at Trooping the Color on Thursday riding in a carriage.
The siblings sat in a carriage alongside Kate and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Louis sat in the center flanked by his older siblings, George and Charlotte, as they waved to the crowds.
What to know about Trooping the Color
Trooping the Color, also known as the Queen’s Birthday Parade, is considered one of the most spectacular ceremonies in the world.
Each year on the reigning monarch’s official birthday, the streets around Buckingham Palace are lined with flag-waving crowds who gather to watch as 1,400 soldiers and 10 military bands parade alongside members of the royal family, who travel on horseback and in carriages.
The parade’s name comes from a military practice in which soldiers gather, or troop, around the Color, a flag that marks a regiment’s position in a battlefield.
At the end of the parade, Queen Elizabeth II traditionally carries out an inspection of the troops and receives a royal salute.
This year, for the first time in the queen’s 70-year reign, her eldest child, Prince Charles, will carry out that duty for her.
Elizabeth will arrive on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, where the royal family gathers to watch a military fly-over.
The queen has attended Trooping the Color every year of her reign except for one, in 1955, when it was canceled due to a national rail strike.
Prince Harry, Meghan to watch Trooping the Color with royal family
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will join royal family members to watch Trooping the Color from a Buckingham Palace office that overlooks the parade ground, a spokesperson for the duke and duchess told ABC News.
The Sussexes look forward to watching from the Major General’s Office, the spokesperson said.
Senior working members of the royal family, including Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife Kate, along with their three children, will watch Trooping the Color, also called the Queen’s Birthday Parade, from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, alongside Queen Elizabeth II herself.
Because they are no longer senior working royals, Harry and Meghan are not part of the traditional balcony appearance, a decision made earlier this year by the queen, according to Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II to miss royal salute at Trooping the Color
Queen Elizabeth II will miss part of Thursday's Trooping the Color, the kick-off to her Platinum Jubilee celebration, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The queen will not join other royal family members in the traditional carriage rides to the Horse Guards and will instead appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, the palace confirmed Wednesday.
Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, will take the royal salute on the parade ground and inspect the troops on the queen's behalf, joined by his son, Prince William, and his sister, Princess Anne.
The queen will take a salute from the cavalry as they go past Buckingham Palace on their return from the parade.
This is the first time in Elizabeth's 70-year reign that she will take a salute from the balcony at Buckingham Palace, and the first time Prince Charles will stand in for her on the parade ground.