It ended just as the “Platinum Jubilee” began: Late on Sunday afternoon, the Queen appeared again with her closest family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace before the big party with the national anthem and the Abba song “Dancing Queen" was over. Between the Queen's two balcony appearances lay a brilliantly arranged program that covered all aspects of a dignified and, above all, joyful national celebration over four days. The military was honored, the church, culture, the cosmos of the minorities, the whole small-scale social coexistence and of course the monarchy itself, represented by the royal family.Since the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games ten years ago, the British have not experienced such a moment of togetherness - or,in the subtle irony of an editorial headline: "The best anniversary yet".
Jochen Buchsteiner
Political correspondent in London.
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Of course, this celebration of the 70th throne jubilee - the first in British history - also drew its intensity from the suspicion that the Queen could perhaps be celebrated in this way for the last time.
On the other hand, should she reach her mother's age, the British could celebrate Elisabeth's "sapphire anniversary" in five years.
Even if the 96-year-old monarch was not able to keep all appointments in the past four days, she showed a remarkable presence.
The video with which she surprised her compatriots on Saturday evening will definitely remain.
In the small film scene - similar to her joint parachute jump with "James Bond" during the Olympic celebrations - this time she received Paddington Bear for tea in the palace.
As in the popular children's book, the clumsy, lovable Peruvian bear misbehaved, sipping the tea straight from the pot and squirting with cream, which the queen watched with an indulgent smile.
When he offered her his jam sandwich, Elisabeth dug her own out of her handbag - and thus gave the answer to the frequently asked question of what she is probably hiding in it.
When Paddington finally said, "Thank you for everything," the Queen modestly replied, "That's very kind."
The self-deprecating game with British icons was repeated when the famous battalion of guards intoned the "We will rock you" anthem by the rock band "The Queen" on drums and the Queen played along with the spoon on the tea service.
More than 20,000 spectators who packed into Trafalgar Square watched Saturday night's extravaganza, for which a massive stage was set up in front of the illuminated Buckingham Palace.
In addition to international pop stars, including Rod Stewart and Diana Ross, the two heirs to the throne also performed there.
While Crown Prince Charles thanked his mother as "Your Majesty, Mummy", his son William placed the protection of the planet and responsibility for future generations at the heart of his message.
A TV reporter was so overwhelmed after the evening that he had trouble
sum it up in words.
Finally he found the beautiful simple sentence: "We expected a party and we got a party."
The exuberant show was preceded by two days that were more about state pomp.
The Trooping the Color parade was followed by a thanksgiving service at St Pauls Cathedral on Friday.
The final day then belonged to the people.
16,000 street parties took place across the country.
In many places, long lunch boards have been pushed together, decorated with Union Jacks.
At Windsor, where the Queen has her home, a panel of 388 tables was counted.
The highlight, however, was the three-kilometer “folk parade” on which almost 8,000 participants moved across the Mall to Buckingham Palace on Sunday in an impressive show of British diversity.
More than a billion people are said to have watched the move around the world, according to the BBC, where the presenter surprisingly immodest the British nation,