Four days of celebrations honoring Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 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 sovereign鈥檚 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 鈥� 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 鈥渢o make memories.鈥�
鈥淵ou鈥檙e never going to see this again in your lifetime,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t least not in mine, maybe not in my daughter鈥檚. 鈥� 70 years 鈥� it is all I have ever known.鈥�
The 96-year-old queen is Britain鈥檚 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 鈥�70.鈥�
The jubilee is being commemorated with a four-day holiday weekend. The celebration of Elizabeth鈥檚 reign includes a service of thanksgiving on Friday at St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral in London, a concert at Buckingham Palace on Saturday and a pageant staged by thousands of performers 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 queen鈥檚 coronation in 1953.
Several protesters were arrested Thursday after getting past barriers and onto the parade route. The group Animal Rebellion claimed responsibility, saying the protesters were 鈥渄emanding that royal land is reclaimed.鈥�
The jubilee is giving many people 鈥� even those often indifferent to the monarchy 鈥� 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 鈥� one of the 14 prime ministers of the queen鈥檚 reign 鈥� said the monarch鈥檚 stoic presence had helped steer the country over the decades,
鈥淭he queen has represented our better selves for over 70 years,鈥� 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.
鈥淚 know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions,鈥� Elizabeth said. 鈥淚 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,鈥�
Congratulations arrived from world leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron called Elizabeth 鈥渢he golden thread that binds our two countries鈥� and one of 鈥渧ery few constants鈥� on the international stage.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama recalled the queen鈥檚 鈥済race and generosity鈥� during his first visit to the palace. He said he had 鈥渓earned so much from seeing the example she set for all of us who had the privilege to serve.鈥�
鈥淵our life has been a gift, not just to the United Kingdom but to the world,鈥� Obama said in a video message, adding: 鈥淢ay the light of your crown continue to reign supreme.鈥�
The long weekend鈥檚 first event, Trooping the Color, refers to a regimental flag, or 鈥渃olor,鈥� that is trooped through the ranks. Britain鈥檚 annual tradition for the queen鈥檚 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 army鈥檚 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 William鈥檚 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 Prince Charles played a key role during the event. Mounted on horseback, he also took a salute, from ranks of scarlet-clad Guards, on his mother鈥檚 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 Charles鈥� 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.
鈥擠anica Kirka And Jill Lawless, The Associated Press
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