Four Day Celebration Marking Queen’s 70-Year Reign Begins In The U.K.

Topline

The U.K. on Thursday began its four-day celebration to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee with a military parade and a gathering of large crowds in central London as the 96-year-old monarch celebrates 70 years on the throne.

Key Facts

Thursday is being marked with a military parade known as’ Trooping the Colour’ and an air show—the ending of which will be witnessed by the Queen and working royals from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Thousands of people—many carrying the Union Jack flag—have gathered near Buckingham Palace and London’s Trafalgar Square to witness the parade and the U.K. government expects millions to join the celebration across the country.

The 96-year-old is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the first to complete seven decades on the throne.

The celebrations come after a difficult few months for the Queen who contracted Covid-19 in February and has since had to cut back on public appearances due to health concerns.

The Queen’s presence at many of the Jubilee events is expected to be limited, according to Reuters, possibly due to what Buckingham Palace described as “episodic mobility problems.”

The start of the parade was marred by two disruptors who were arrested after they interrupted the march.

Crucial Quote

“Thank you to everyone who has been involved…I 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 seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm,” the Queen said in a statement to the public.

Tangent

The Queen is will appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with working members of the British royal family including Prince Charles, William and Kate. William and Kate’s children George, Charlotte, and Louis appeared at the parade in a carriage for the first time and are expected to be featured heavily in the event. The Queen’s other grandson Harry and his wife Megan as at the ceremony but will not be seen on the balcony as they are no longer working royals.

Key Background

While the ‘Trooping the Colour’ parade takes place every year to mark the Queen’s birthday, Thursday’s event is only the third such jubilee celebration that has taken place to honor the monarch. In 2002, the Queen celebrated her golden jubilee after completing five decades as monarch, and a decade later in 2012, she marked 60 years on the throne with her diamond jubilee celebrations. The event is also being celebrated in other parts of the Commonwealth—countries where the Queen also serves as the head of state—with the new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marking the occasion with a traditional beacon lighting ceremony, with a similar ceremony taking place in neighboring New Zealand.