After a whirlwind four days of events celebrating the Queen’s 70 years on the throne as part of the Platinum Jubilee weekend, today, the British royal family was ready to let its hair down. (That is, if they hadn’t already while taking in appearances from Elton John, Diana Ross—and yes, even Paddington Bear—at last night’s Party at the Palace.)
With the exuberant spirit of today’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, they did just that. After the family arrived into the royal box, the show began with the Gold State Coach making its procession down The Mall, here featuring a hologram of Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation day in 1953. Next, a military parade was followed by a fleet of Morris Minors whizzing up the wide street to Buckingham Palace, tailed by a phalanx of motorcyclists riding vintage British bikes.
The royal standard was then raised above the palace to indicate the Queen’s imminent arrival, while a flotilla of open-decked buses transported an eclectic range of British celebrities dancing along to the classic songs blasting through speakers, from Elgar to The Beatles. (One of the buses was even chartered by Charlotte Tilbury, the official beauty partner of the pageant, and included a very different kind of royalty, with a lineup of British fashion stars that included Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Erin O’Connor.)
Then, the royals themselves made an appearance on the balcony, with the Duchess of Cambridge, in particular, standing out with her fuchsia Stella McCartney gown. But it was, of course, the Queen’s moment. The 96-year-old monarch wore an emerald green suit as she broke into a smile, waving to her well-wishers as they continued their carnival-like parade.
To share her thanks, the Queen released a statement soon after the pageant concluded. “When it comes to how to mark 70 years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow,” she said. “It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my platinum jubilee. While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.”
She continued, “I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come. I thank you all most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations.”
If that wasn’t enough, today’s celebrations have spread across the entire country. From Prince Charles and Camilla attending a jubilee lunch in south London, to the bizarre tradition of a cheese rolling festival that took place in Gloucestershire (we’ll let the photos do the talking), the Platinum Jubilee ended with a bang.
Here, find everything you need to see from the final day of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
