Fashionably royal Queen Elizabeth II‘s Platinum Jubilee celebration has commenced, and the British monarch is marking 70 years on the throne in style.
The parade began on Thursday, June 2nd when the queen took her seat on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. She was joined by her cousin, Duke of Kent, while others — including Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — waved to the crowd below on a carriage together.
The parade marks the official birthday celebration of the British Sovereign, which has been going on for almost 300 years. (The queen’s actual birthday is on April 21.)
Her Majesty looked royal in a pale blue outfit with a hat and pearl necklace. She even included a pop of pink lipstick! During the moment, the crowd was filled with applause and she smiled big!
When it comes to the queen’s wardrobe, she’s known to step out in brightly colored attire. She often commemorates public events in vibrant dresses and coats, which she pairs with coordinating hats and jewelry — some of which have been passed down to her. As part of the festivities, several pieces from queen’s jewelry collection will go on display, The Royal Collection Trust announced in May. One item included is the Diamond Diadem — a crown created for George IV to wear on his coronation day in 1821. The sparkling headpiece was inherited by Queen Victoria, 1837. It was later passed on to Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother, and finally, to Queen Elizabeth II. The crown has been worn by the reigning monarch on many occasions, but most notably at the States Opening of Parliament.
The parade and display are just two of the many activities and events that will be part the Platinum Jubilee. On February 6, the monarch will celebrate 70 years of her reign on the throne. This will make her the first British ruler ever to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. (She is already the commonwealth’s longest-reigning monarch, surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria in 2015.)
Buckingham Palace revealed the initial plans for the celebration in January. They started everything off with a national baking competition to create a Jubilee Pudding. The celebration will culminate with a four-day weekend of festivities in the U.K. that runs from June 2 to June 5. “The bank holiday will provide an opportunity for communities and people throughout the United Kingdom to come together to celebrate the historic milestone,” the palace said in a statement on January 10.
This wouldn’t be the first time the queen has set a historical record. In 2017, she became the first British monarch to celebrate a Sapphire Jubilee — which occurs after 65 years on the throne. After her father, King George VI, had died at 56, the queen rose in power in February 1952. In June 1953, she was coronated.
The queen has been served by 14 British prime minsters, including Winston Churchill (her first), Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair, since she took the throne. She is also the longest serving female head of state in any country’s history.
While the Jubilee is set to be a joyous occasion, the event will mark the queen’s first throne celebration without her husband, Prince Philip. He died in April 2021, at the age of 99. The queen will still be surrounded by her family, including her grandchildren Prince William, and his wife, Duchess Kate. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and other royals are also expected to make an appearance.
Keep scrolling to see Queen Elizabeth’s celebration outfit.
