honoring Queen Elizabeth IIB次元官网网址檚 70 years on the throne kicked off Thursday with a display of British military traditions stretching from the days of horse and cannon to the jet age.
Formal celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee began with Trooping the Color, an annual military review that has marked the sovereignB次元官网网址檚 official birthday since 1760. The queen took a salute on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and joined the working members of her family for a military flypast.
Thousands of people, some of whom camped overnight, lined the parade route B次元官网网址� many of them sporting Union Jack flags, party hats or plastic tiaras. Carly Martin, who caught a late-night bus from south London with her daughter, said she had come B次元官网网址渢o make memories.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e never going to see this again in your lifetime,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎t least not in mine, maybe not in my daughterB次元官网网址檚. B次元官网网址� 70 years B次元官网网址� it is all I have ever known.B次元官网网址�
The 96-year-old queen is BritainB次元官网网址檚 longest-reigning monarch and the first to reach the milestone of seven decades on the throne. Elizabeth smiled broadly Thursday as she spoke with her great-grandchildren and looked up as the British military aircraft roared over the palace. The six-minute display included Typhoon jets flying in a formation spelling out the number B次元官网网址�70.B次元官网网址�
The jubilee is being commemorated with a four-day holiday weekend. The celebration of ElizabethB次元官网网址檚 reign includes a service of thanksgiving on Friday at St. PaulB次元官网网址檚 Cathedral in London, a concert at Buckingham Palace on Saturday and a pageant staged by drawn from schools and community groups around the country on Sunday. Thousands of street parties are planned around the country, repeating a tradition that began with the queenB次元官网网址檚 coronation in 1953.
Thursday after getting past barriers and onto the parade route. The group Animal Rebellion claimed responsibility, saying the protesters were B次元官网网址渄emanding that royal land is reclaimed.B次元官网网址�
The jubilee is giving many people B次元官网网址� even those often indifferent to the monarchy B次元官网网址� a chance to reflect on the state of the nation and the huge changes that have taken place during her reign. Former Prime Minister John Major B次元官网网址� one of the 14 prime ministers of the queenB次元官网网址檚 reign B次元官网网址� said the monarchB次元官网网址檚 stoic presence had helped steer the country over the decades,
B次元官网网址淭he queen has represented our better selves for over 70 years,B次元官网网址� he told the BBC.
In a written jubilee message, the queen thanked people in Britain and across the Commonwealth involved in organizing the celebrations. For many, the occasion is the first opportunity for a big bash since the start of the coronavirus pandemic more than two years ago.
B次元官网网址淚 know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions,B次元官网网址� Elizabeth said. B次元官网网址淚 continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm,B次元官网网址�
Congratulations arrived from world leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron called Elizabeth B次元官网网址渢he golden thread that binds our two countriesB次元官网网址� and one of B次元官网网址渧ery few constantsB次元官网网址� on the international stage.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama recalled the queenB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址済race and generosityB次元官网网址� during his first visit to the palace. He said he had B次元官网网址渓earned so much from seeing the example she set for all of us who had the privilege to serve.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵our life has been a gift, not just to the United Kingdom but to the world,B次元官网网址� Obama said in a video message, adding: B次元官网网址淢ay the light of your crown continue to reign supreme.B次元官网网址�
The long weekendB次元官网网址檚 first event, Trooping the Color, refers to a regimental flag, or B次元官网网址渃olor,B次元官网网址� that is trooped through the ranks. BritainB次元官网网址檚 annual tradition for the queenB次元官网网址檚 birthday is a ceremonial reenactment of the way battle flags were once shown to soldiers to make sure they would recognize a crucial rallying point if they became disoriented in combat.
Each year a different unit in the armyB次元官网网址檚 Household Division has the honor of trooping its color. The 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards will have the spotlight during the Platinum Jubilee.
Cheers and the clop of hooves rang out Thursday as horse-drawn carriages carried members of the royal family, including Prince WilliamB次元官网网址檚 wife, Kate, and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial parade ground about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) away.
The queen is expected to appear twice on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Thursday, but played a key role during the event. Mounted on horseback, he also took a salute, from ranks of scarlet-clad Guards, on his motherB次元官网网址檚 behalf, along with his sister, Princess Anne, and his son Prince William.
Elizabeth has had trouble getting around of late, and her courtiers have been careful to keep make things as simple for her as possible.
Senior royals including Prince CharlesB次元官网网址� wife, Camilla, traveled in carriages to watch the ceremony from a building overlooking the parade ground.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined other royals to watch the spectacle. Harry and Meghan traveled to London from their home in California with their two young children to take part in the celebrations.
B次元官网网址擠anica Kirka And Jill Lawless, The Associated Press
