- Tens of thousands of royal supporters lined the streets of London on Thursday to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.
- The arrival of the first senior royals at the Horse Guards Parade in a carriage were met with loud cheers.
- Crowds then cheered the queen as she appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to take a salute from troops after the military parade.
Tens of thousands of royal supporters lined the streets of London on Thursday to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee and kick off four days of pomp, parties and parades to mark her record-breaking 70 years on the British throne.
In brilliant sunshine, families and friends gathered on the main grand roads running up to Buckingham Palace, cheering the regimental marching bands, waving Union flags and wearing paper crowns. Many had slept on the streets to secure a good position.
Others descended on nearby parks to enjoy picnics and follow the proceedings on big screens.
At least two people briefly caused a disturbance by running out in front of marching soldiers on the Mall boulevard before they were dragged away by police. Police said a number of arrests had been made for public order offences.
The Military Parade
The arrival of the first senior royals at the Horse Guards Parade in a carriage - Kate, the wife of Prince William, her three young children and Camilla, the wife of heir to the throne Prince Charles - were met with loud cheers.
Also travelling in a barouche is The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise and Viscount Severn.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 2, 2022
Cleveland Bays Svjek and Zeno are pulling their carriage.#PlatinumJubilee pic.twitter.com/PCQ57cqk2O
The queen, a keen horsewoman, has previously taken the salute in person at Horseguards Parade, the site a short ride down The Mall where king Henry VIII once jousted.
But her 73-year-old son and heir Prince Charles stepped in this year, in the latest public sign of his future role as king.
Joining him at the parade of the colour or regimental flag of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards was his sister Princess Anne, 71, and his eldest son, Prince William, 39, both in ceremonial uniform.
Crowds cheered the queen as she appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the start of her historic Platinum Jubilee.
The 96-year-old monarch's appearance at the festivities for her record-breaking 70 years on the throne had been in doubt due to illness and recent mobility problems.
But dressed in dove blue, her hands clasped on a walking stick, she took a salute from mounted troops from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, under the fluttering royal standard.
The flypast
Upon the completion of the military parade, the queen, along with working members of the royal family readied themselves on the palace balcony to watch the jubilee flypast.
Joining the monarch was Prince Charles and Camilla; Princess Anne; Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children; the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their two children; and the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
Millions of people across Britain and the world are expected to join the festivities in honour of the 96-year-old, who has reigned for longer than any of her predecessors, the government said.
"Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth," Elizabeth said in a statement.
"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 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm."
READ MORE | Queen Elizabeth releases message of thanks alongside new portrait
With additional reporting by Bronwyn McKay.