LONDON (AP) – A colorful street competition celebrating the life of Queen Elizabeth II and highlighting Britain’s diversity parades through central London on Sunday, the last day of a long holiday weekend in honor of the 70s on the monarch’s throne. Royal fans were hoping to see another look at the 96-year-old queen later at Buckingham Palace, where the parade ends.
With bells in Westminster Abbey, a grand military parade of 200 horses began the ceremony as they marched down the mall to Buckingham Palace. They circled the golden American carriage, a gilded carriage that carried the queen to her coronation 69 years ago.
The queen did not take part in the competition – although a virtual version of her, taken from an archival video of her coronation in 1953, was shown on the coach’s windows.
About 6,000 performers marched a three-kilometer (almost two miles) route lined with a sea of Union flags, telling the story of the queen’s life with dancing, retro cars, bright costumes, carnival music and giant dolls.
Some of Britain’s most beloved cultural products were here, from the Dales in “Doctor Who” to James Bond’s Aston Martins. Celebrities, including singer Cliff Richard, danced and sang on double-decker open-top buses designed to show the sights and sounds of every decade from the 1950s onwards.
Organizers say the competition is expected to be watched by 1 billion people worldwide.
The most ardent royal fans endured the wet, cool weather and settled in the Mall overnight to provide the best view of the competition. Some came for the celebrities who will present themselves, while others wanted to be part of a historic moment.
“It’s part of the story, it will never happen again. It’s something special, so if you want to do it, you have to grow up or go home, “said Sean Wallen, 50.
The queen did not join her family in the royal lodge watching the competition. Nor did Prince Harry and his wife Megan, who made their first family trip to the United Kingdom after retiring and moving to the United States in 2020. The couple largely went out of the limelight during the platinum events. anniversary.
The monarch has not appeared in public for the events of Thursday’s platinum anniversary, when he smiled and waved on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with his family. She has limited her appearances in recent months due to what the palace describes as “episodic mobility problems”. She also had COVID-19 this spring.
However, she delighted the country when she appeared in a surprising comedy video that opened a concert on Saturday in front of Buckingham Palace. In the video, the monarch drank tea with the computer-animated bear Paddington – and revealed that just like the furry character, she is prone to marmalade sandwiches and likes to keep them in her handbag.
Diana Ross and the rock band Queen led the star’s tribute concert on Saturday night, which also featured Rod Stewart, Duran Duran, Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli.
The celebrities paid tribute to decades of service to the Queen in the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth. Prince Charles, her eldest son and heir to the throne, emphasized her mother’s role as a symbol of unity and stability over the decades.
Addressing the Queen with “Your Majesty, Mother,” Charles said, “You are laughing and crying with us, and most importantly, you have been with us for these 70 years.”
On Sunday, Charles and his wife, Camilla, mingled with crowds at London’s The Oval cricket field for “Big Jubilee Lunch.” Millions across the country are also setting up long tables, balloons and picnics for such patriotic street parties and barbecues.
Later on Sunday, celebrities, including singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran, will perform “God Save The Queen” in front of Buckingham Palace as the final of the competition. Many hope the monarch will make a second appearance on the balcony to end the weekend of festivities.
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Joe Kearney contributed to this report.
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