Tens of thousands of people cheered Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, on the first day of celebrations of her 70 years of reign, an unprecedented longevity for the British monarchy.

It was the highly anticipated high point of the four-day platinum jubilee festivities for the ultra-popular 96-year-old sovereign, whose health is now fragile.

These celebrations offer Britons a moment of communion after several years of heartbreak over Brexit and strict confinements due to Covid-19, now followed by soaring prices.


Directed by:

Olivier JUSZCZAK

  • For this jubilee, pennants, flags and giant portraits have been hung in the streets all over the United Kingdom.

  • The windows are filled with souvenirs and the sales of alcohol and typically “British” cakes have exploded.

  • The queen is

    ascended to the throne at the age of 25, on February 6, 1952, on the death of her father George VI.

  • Never has a British sovereign reigned as long as Elizabeth II.

  • Lady Louise of Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn, grandchildren of the Queen, were present.

  • In the same carriage as their parents, the Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II.

  • Prince George, third heir to the throne, following his father Prince William, and his grandfather Prince Charles.

  • Prince William and Princess Anne performed the parade while riding horses.

    Just like Prince Charles.

  • It is unlikely that another British sovereign will achieve such longevity: Charles, the crown prince is 73 years old, his son William will soon be 40.

  • The passage of the annual military parade of "Salut aux couleurs", bringing together more than 1,200 soldiers and hundreds of musicians.

  • For the happiness of the little ones! 

  • After a first appearance with the Duke of Kent, the Queen returned to the balcony for a Royal Air Force flyover, this time accompanied by 17 members of the Royal Family who have official duties and their children.

  • Deprived of a balcony, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan watched the parade discreetly from another building, for their first public return to the United Kingdom since their sensational departure from California in 2020.

  • For this holiday, a dense crowd, colored with flags and portraits of the queen, had massed along the Mall, the avenue leading to the palace.

  • The facial expressions of Louis, 4, the youngest child of Prince William, melted the public when the planes passed!

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