Thousands of public celebrations are planned to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne across the UK four days to the end.
The big highlight comes according to plan when the anniversary starts on Thursday. Then the queen is expected to come out on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to attend the traditional “Trooping the Color” ceremony.
Sleeping in a tent
Thousands expect to gather along “the Mall” to catch a glimpse of the Queen on the big day. The most eager have already gathered on site with tents and sleeping bags for several days.
Fans will pay tribute to the Queen at what may be her last public event.
– HIGHLIGHTS: Here we see previous markings with the queen and the rest of the family on the balcony. From the top to the bottom, the photos were taken on June 7, 1977, June 4, 2002 and June 5, 2012. Photo: PA
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A life experience
Rose persuaded his niece Emma to come with her to camp outside in anticipation of the celebration.
– This is the only opportunity to experience something like this during life for both me and her, Rose says to TV 2.
The most important thing for both of them is to see Queen Elizabeth with their own eyes.
– Unfortunately, the royal family has not always behaved as they should, but the queen has never done anything wrong. She has always been stoic. She has probably had many sorrows, but she has behaved flawlessly. And royal, I can say, says Rose.
– ROYALE FANS: American Miriam Lawery and British Patty Scott are already in place. Photo: Tonje Iversen / TV 2
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– I really wanted to come here to be a part of this. I have never been involved in anything like this, says Patty Scott to TV 2.
She has just met American Miriam Lawery from North Carolina who is in London with her sister.
– It is a life experience, something you can tell your grandchildren about, says Lawery.
– The world’s best role model
– The queen is the world’s best role model. She has ruled for 70 years and never went wrong. Never said a bad word and never upset anyone. She is just insanely amazing, so this is to say thank you for taking care of us for 70 years, says Mary Jane Willows (69) to Reuters.
– CHEERS THE QUEEN: Mary-Jane Willows from Cornwall has been living in a tent near the castle since Tuesday. Photo: James Manning
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– I had to come here. Had I not left, I would have regretted, says Lucy Edwards to TV 2. She is on site with her 16-year-old son. She does not expect a lot of sleep during the night.
– I’m just going to have fun with people here, she says.
– PARTY DRESSED: Lucy Edwards is wearing a gold scarf and the Union Jack hair hoop. Photo: Tonje Iversen / TV 2
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Visitors have come from all over the world. Those who are fond of the British royal family, and the Queen in particular, want to show gratitude for the work she has done.
– I am proud of the queen, and we really want to thank her for the good job, says Edwards.
Duty first
Since Queen Elizabeth II became head of the British Commonwealth of Nations, she has put duty first. No one knows what the queen herself thinks about her life being staked out in this way.
She has never given an interview or shared her personal experiences and thoughts about the role she has.
Portrait: She really should not have inherited the throne. She has now ruled for 70 years
– Angie and Patrick Hart have traveled all the way from Canada to be present during the anniversary. Photo: Matt Dunham
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Concern for health
There have been major concerns about the Queen’s health recently. Last-minute cancellations and corona infections earlier this year have led many to doubt whether she would participate fully in her own platinum anniversary.
“If we do not get to see the queen during the anniversary, millions of people will be disappointed,” royal family photographer Arthur Edwards told AFP.
But things look bright. In recent weeks, Queen Elizabeth has made several surprising appearances – including the opening of a new London Underground line bearing her name, and the Windsor Horse Show.
Such is the party program
Thursday 2 June
More than 1,200 soldiers from the British Army will perform the traditional “Trooping the Color” ceremony to officially mark the Queen’s birthday.
The military show with horses and musicians combines pomp and splendor and has been a tradition for more than 200 years.
The event ends with the royal family showing up on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to wave to the crowds in attendance and watch military planes fly past in formation.
This year’s performance is limited to the working royals only, which means that neither Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan nor Prince Andrew will attend.
More than 200 cairns will be lit both at the palace and across Britain, including on top of the country’s four highest mountains and on the islands of the English Channel, the Isle of Man and British overseas territories.
Burning tributes can also be seen in the capitals of 54 countries in the Commonwealth across five continents, from Tonga and Samoa in the South Pacific to Belize in the Caribbean.
Nine bridges over the Thames in London will also be lit up, as well as the landmark BT Tower and several cathedrals.
Friday, June 3rd
A national Thanksgiving for the Queen’s record-breaking time as monarch and head of state takes place in London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, with a rare carillon from the Great Paul’s Bell.
It is the largest church bell in the country. The mechanism broke in the 1970s, but was restored to its former glory last year.
It has only been allowed to play eight times since then, and never on the occasion of a royal celebration.
Saturday, June 4th
Queen Elizabeth is an avid fan of horse racing and is expected to take part in the prestigious and traditional race The Derby at Epsom Downs.
In the evening, around 22,000 people, including 5,000 socially critical workers and health workers, are expected to attend the BBC’s Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace.
There, the stage is set for a star-studded concert. Queen + Adam Lambert, Diana Ross, Elton John, Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli, among others, will perform their biggest hits, and the concert is expected to last for two and a half hours.
Sunday, June 5th
More than 70,000 people have signed up to host large anniversary lunches, and it is expected that over 10 million people will spend the day celebrating with friends and neighbors, according to the government.
More than 600 official lunches are planned in the Commonwealth and other countries, from Canada to Brazil, New Zealand to Japan and South Africa to Switzerland.
The last day of the celebration culminates with a grand parade through central London.
Around 10,000 are involved in a musical and creative foresight of how British society has changed since Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1952.
The parade ends with the national anthem being sung outside Buckingham Palace. Lead singer is Ed Sheeran.
(NTB)
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The celebration has been planned for months, and the final touches remain. On Wednesday, fences will be set up, and the police will check the security arrangements around Buckinham Palace.
The celebration does not only take place in London. All over the country, red, white and blue Union Jack flags are being decorated these days for street parties, picnics and barbecues.
The British get two days off to celebrate the queen, something the retail and catering industry in particular hopes will lead to good sales after two difficult years with the corona pandemic.
No other British monarch has ever sat on the throne as long as Queen Elizabeth. Many are worried about the future of the British monarchy after she has passed away, but for the next four days the focus will be on the celebration.
– The little princess, age 11, appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on a very auspicious occasion. The coronation of her father, King George VI, on May 12, 1937 in London. Princess Elizabeth and her baby sister, Margaret Rose, wear coronets. Their majesties wear crowns and full coronation regalia. (AP Photo)
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– File photo dated 02/06/1953 of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Duke of Edinburgh in uniform of Admiral of the Fleet wave from the balcony to the onlooking crowds around the gates of Buckingham Palace after the Coronation. Foto: PA
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– Queen Elizabeth II holds her 12 week old son, Prince Edward, as she stands with her husband Prince Phillip on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 13, 1964. (AP photo)
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