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Friday, March 14, 2025
WorldPlatinum Jubilee: Crowd cheers Queen at palace as Jubilee begins

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Platinum Jubilee: Crowd cheers Queen at palace as Jubilee begins

Roaring crowds cheered the Queen as she joined other royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on the first of four days of Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Thousands flooded The Mall, waving flags in the brilliant sunshine to celebrate the Queen’s 70-year reign.

The 96-year-old watched a flypast with 17 other royals and was immediately flanked by Prince Charles and four-year old great-grandson Prince Louis.

The Queen looked delighted as she and Prince Louis chatted during the event.

But the noise of the 70-aircraft flypast was too much for the young prince, who was pictured covering his ears and tightly shutting his eyes.

The parade marked the start of a long bank holiday weekend of events celebrating the Queen’s reign – the longest by a British monarch.

Riding on horseback and wearing the Platinum Jubilee medal with his uniform, the Prince of Wales inspected the troops in his mother’s place.

The Queen, who was using a walking stick, has limited her appearances in recent months due to mobility issues.

As the soldiers marched towards Buckingham Palace at the end of the parade, the Queen emerged on to the balcony, accompanied by cheers from the crowd.

Princes George and Louis, Princess Charlotte, the Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Cornwall arriving at Horse Guards' Parade by carriageIMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES
Image caption, Princes George and Prince Louis with Princess Charlotte arrived by carriage with their mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Prince Charles and Prince William on horseback during Trooping the ColourIMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS
Image caption, Prince Charles and Prince William rode on horseback during the parade
Crowds on the Mall for Trooping the ColourIMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES
Image caption, A large crowd lined the Mall, some of whom had camped overnight for the best spot

More than 1,500 officers and soldiers along with 350 horses from the Household Division took part in Trooping the Colour, the first time the parade has been staged in full since the pandemic.

After the parade, more than 70 aircraft – including Spitfires from World War Two, Apache helicopters, Typhoons and the Red Arrows – took part in the flypast over Buckingham Palace.

Several jets flew in formation to form the number 70 in honour of the Queen’s long reign

Flag-waving spectators look up as a group of planes fly in formation to spell out '70' to mark the Queen's reignIMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES
The Queen flanked by 17 other senior royals on the balconyIMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS
Image caption, The Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, took up a position on the far right of the balcony, standing with his immediate family, meaning he was cropped out of many pictures seen on the day

Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – flanked the monarch on the balcony – the Royal Family’s first gathering there since 2019.

It had been decided only “working royals” would appear, which excluded the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the Queen’s son, the Duke of York.

Prince Andrew, whose royal titles were returned to the Crown amid a lawsuit in the US, did not attend. He had been due to attend Friday’s thanksgiving service, but on Thursday afternoon Buckingham Palace said he would miss it as he had tested positive for Covid.

Prince Harry and Meghan, who now live in the US, watched Trooping the Colour from a vantage point in the Duke of Wellington’s former office, overlooking Horse Guards Parade.

They travelled with their children Archie, three, and Lilibet, who turns one on Saturday. Lilibet is the family nickname for the Queen.

Meghan Markle with Savannah Phillips and Mia TindallIMAGE SOURCE, KELVIN BRUCE
Image caption, Meghan appeared at the window of the Major General’s office overlooking the Trooping of the Colour
Prince Harry puts his finger to his lips with Savannah Phillips and Mia Tindall in the Major General's office overlooking The Trooping of the ColourIMAGE SOURCE, KELVIN BRUCE
Image caption, Prince Harry was also spotted with Savannah Phillips and Mia Tindall at the same window
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