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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Kate evokes Princess Diana in Platinum Jubilee look
The Duchess of Cambridge looks like she took a page out of the style book of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
Kate chose a white suit and wide-brimmed black and white hat for her look at Trooping the Color.
More than three decades ago, in 1991, Diana also wore a white suit and wide-brimmed black and white hat to a ceremony celebrating the safe return of U.K. soldiers from the Gulf War.
Where are Prince Harry and Meghan?
Prince Harry is sixth in line to the British throne but is not playing an active role in this year’s Trooping the Color.
Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped down from their roles as senior, working royals in 2020.
This year, Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s grandmother, decided that only royal family members “currently undertaking official public duties” on her behalf would join her at the traditional appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Color.
Harry and Meghan, who now live in California, are watching the proceedings with other members of the royal family from the Major General’s Office, an office in Buckingham Palace that overlooks the parade ground, according to their spokesperson.
Princes Charles, William ride on horseback
Prince Charles and his son, Prince William, the heirs to the throne, rode in the Queen’s Birthday Parade on horseback, following tradition.
Prince Charles’s sister, Princess Anne, was also spotted on horseback while other members of the royal family rode in carriages.
The public will get their first sight of Queen Elizabeth when she appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Pomp and pageantry on display at Trooping the Color
British tradition is on full display as the Queen’s Birthday Parade makes its way to Buckingham Palace.
The parade includes 1,400 soldiers and 10 military bands marching and playing in unison.
Queen Elizabeth II plays a ceremonial role as the head of the U.K.’s Armed Forces. Each member of the British military swears an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty.
Trooping the Color is the military’s opportunity to impress its commander in chief with all its precision, pomp and pageantry.
The royal family head to Guildhall after service at St. Paul’s
The National Service of Thanksgiving has concluded after nearly an hour.
Following the service, the bells at St. Paul’s Cathedral will be rung for a continuous four hours with no breaks in between.
According to a press release, members of the St Paul’s Cathedral Guild of Ringers "will ring 'Stedman Cinques'" and "will be joined by Great Paul, the largest church bell in the UK," which weighs in at more than 16 tons.
The Great Paul bell was restored in 2021 and this will be the first time it has been rung for a royal occasion.
Royal family members will now head over to a reception at Guildhall, hosted by Vincent Keaveny, the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the City of London Corporation.