Great Britain celebrates Elizabeth: the queen twice on the balcony, an ovation for her

The United Kingdom celebrates. began on the first of the four special days of Platinum Jubilee to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II. Present in the front row the Windsors of the first line, appeared on the balcony for the photo that will consign this day to history. Also present were Harry and Meghan, far from the spotlight for, who followed the Trooping the color in a building adjacent to Horse Guards Parade. In the afternoon, then, the announcement of Buckingham Palace: Prince Andrew positive at Covid will not appear even tomorrow in St Paul.

This morning the Trooping the Color, the great parade, will kick off the celebrations military that is held every year for the public celebration of the sovereign’s birthday, after the private one on April 21 (the day she was born in 1926).

A glorious sunny day. The center of London closed to traffic and literally invaded by people, from a world in celebration, euphoric, curious to take part in the big party. Just by walking through the gates of Green park leading to Buckingham Palace and mixing with the crowd of hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world and from all walks of life, from Ladies with hats or fascinators, to children with flags, you understand the strength of the monarchy.

And this morning Elizabeth wanted to thank her people in turn, those crowds who are celebrating for her today. Thanks to everyone who went out of their way to bring together the various communities, families, friends, to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee, wrote the queen. I continue to be inspired by the good heart, by the affection you show me and I hope that these next days will give the opportunity to reflect on everything that has been achieved in 70 years. She who had promised, speaking in full pandemic: We will meet again, we will come back to meet and celebrate. So it was today for the first day of this historic Jubilee,

The queen, the first one facing the balcony

The royal standard has been raised, the queen looks out. She dressed in a light blue gown with a cream trim, she was standing next to her cousin, the Duke of Kent, as she watched the huge crowd of people who showed up to celebrate her. In the evening, a light show will see 3,000 lighthouses illuminate across the country and in the Commonwealth.

The British royal family then gathered together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the performance of the Royal Air Force aerobatic squadron. To the right of the queen, Prince Charles with his wife Camilla. To his left, Prince William with his wife and children. Not present, as expected, are the members of the Windsors who have been relieved of their official posts in the royal family, namely Prince Andrew and the Sussexes, Harry and Meghan. The latter were for sighted at the ceremony.

The beginning of the ceremony

The feast of the Jubilee began with a blue sky like that of her first Jubilee in 1977: today the queen wore blue interwoven with platinum threads. In 1977 she chose a pink dress. Fresh and light for a Jubilee that had the difficult challenge of seeing the monarchy in the modernity, even if hard and problematic, of the 70s.

The sound of the national anthem – God Save the Queen, God Save the Queen – announced the arrival of the leaders of the royal family on active service: in the front row the heir to the throne Charles with his son William, second in line of succession, both riding in full uniform together with Princess Anna, second child of Elizabeth , and with the gold medals of the Jubilee pinned to his chest.

Followed by Camilla and Catherine and the three children of the Dukes of Cambridge, George, Charlotte and Louis. At the parade of Trooping the Color 1,450 soldiers and 200 horses participate this year.

The interruption of the demonstrators

Protesters belonging to the group Animal Rebellion attempted to interrupt the start of the military parade along the Mall of London (the wide avenue that connects Buckingham Palace and Admiralty Arch, near Trafalgar Square). Protesters, including a man wearing a crown, climbed over the barriers and flung themselves to the ground as British soldiers passed.

The messages of the institutions

Even the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinkencongratulated Elizabeth II: Her Majesty’s 70 years of unprecedented service to the United Kingdom are an inspiration to Americans, who have a deep admiration for the Queen and are grateful to her for her decades of friendship with the United States, an official note reads.

Pope francesco sent to the queen cordial greetings and best wishes, together with the renewed assurance of my prayers, that Almighty God may grant her, the members of the royal family and all the people of the nation blessings of unity, prosperity and peace.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Elizabeth on her remarkable Platinum Jubilee. The whole country, the Commonwealth and the world thank you for your unwavering commitment and service, Johnson added, concluding a Twitter post with God Save the Queen !.

Jill and I wish Your Majesty a joyful celebration of the Platinum Jubilee. On behalf of the United States, congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II on 70 years of unprecedented service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and thank you for your friendship with the American people. The American president wrote it Joe Biden on Twitter, relaunching a greeting message recorded with the first lady.

72 empty chairs for the victims of the Grenfell Tower

(Andrea Priante) A table along a street a stone’s throw from London’s Grenfell Tower, just in the days when the English capital draws the world’s eyes to it for the celebrations organized on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee. Around that perfectly laid table, 72 empty chairs, like the victims of the fire that devastated the 24-storey skyscraper on the night of June 14, 2017. (here the full article)

(article being updated)