The 70 years of reign of Elizabeth II, the Queen looks out from the balcony

Queen Elizabeth II will not attend Friday's 70-year thanksgiving mass at St Paul's Cathedral in London after accusing "a bit of discomfort" on the first day of platinum jubilee celebrations.

She announced it Buckingham Palace, quoted by the BBC, which speaks of new concerns for the health of the 96-year-old sovereign.

"The queen appreciated the parade very much, but

", reads a note in which it is added that the decision was made with "great reluctance".

"In view of the travel and activities required to participate in the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, Her Majesty

," the royal palace writes in its statement.

As expected, the Queen instead attended Windsor Castle at the lighting ceremony of the main Platinum Jubilee Lighthouse, while simultaneously more than 3,000 lighthouses were lit across the UK and the Commonwealth.

Smiling, wearing a light blue dress with a touch of lavender and cream profiles, a matching hat,

appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to attend the military parade in honor of her

.

Next to her, in full uniform, the Duke of Kent, and then the members of the royal family.

The UK celebrates Elizabeth II

on the throne, an unprecedented milestone, with

extra national holiday proclaimed by the government of Boris Johnson.

Preceded at dawn by the spectacular projection of holograms of historical images of the queen on the

and by a shower of royal decorations and honors for the occasion attributed to VIPs such as the actor Damian Lewis, the stylist Stella McCartney and many others, at 10 local time on Thursday 2 June (11 in Italy) a special edition of

began , the

, lasting almost three hours, which is usually held every year for the public celebration of the

, after the private one of 21 April, her true date of birth. 

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Photos of Queen Elizabeth projected at Stonehenge

The protesters

Not without some inconvenience: a

in London, after having jumped the barriers along the Mall, the great avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace and where the crowds gather to watch the celebrations.

The men, some wearing plastic crowns, were seen jumping over the barriers;

some of them lay down on the ground in front of the soldiers taking part in the traditional parade, showing flyers calling for an end to the hunt on the royal territory.

The demonstration action was also claimed on Twitter by the animal rights organization (linked to the more famous "Extinction Rebellion") also announcing that "we are preparing for this summer a bigger action than ever against the dairy industry".

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Proytesta during the Jubilee parade

The parade

The ceremony came to life with the parade of more than

carriages with members of the royal family, which the Queen did not attend.

The Duchess of Cambridge dressed in white took her place with her three children George, Charlotte and Louis and her mother-in-law Camilla, wife of the heir to the throne, Prince Charles.

In another carriage headed for Buckingham Palace, Prince Edward with his wife Sophie in pink and children.

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The Duchess of Cambridge with her children and Camilla

The parade this year was also attended by the

, future British king second in the line of succession to the throne, who received the flags of the regiments.

.

The center of the scene was entrusted in the courtyard of the palace to the equestrian parade of the Horse Guards Parade of the first elite battalion of the Irish Guards of the British armed forces.

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 duty", greeted by the enthusiastic greeting of the crowd wings lined up along the Mall in a riot of Union Jack: 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 gold medals pinned to his chest of the Jubilee.

On a platform set up in the square, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in a morning suit, with First Lady Carrie next to him, in a pink dress with a large service hat, attended the parade.   

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Platinum Jubilee of the Queen

The Queen on the balcony

As per tradition - suspended only during the Covid pandemic - Elizabeth II appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to follow the procession and overflight of the RAF acrobatic team, and greet the crowd. 

Welcomed by an ovation, dressed in blue - with the same dress worn in the official portrait released yesterday - she went out leaning on a stick, as she has been doing for a few months, but she seemed in good shape.

She then returned, awaiting the arrival of the members of the royal family. 

The greeting to the cheering crowd was preceded by a curtain when Prince

, 4, William and Kate's third child, anticipated everyone by peeping for a moment to wave his hand.

The Queen then went out onto the balcony again, wearing sunglasses to watch the Royal Air Force aerobatic squadron evolve in the sky.

It is the first time in the 70 years of Elizabeth's reign - writes the BBC - that the Queen does not personally preside on the field at this parade, suspended in its solemn form in the years of the Covid pandemic, and delegates Prince Charles to receive the honors ritual.

The last time an heir to the throne was touched dates back to 1951, when the current sovereign - still a princess - was commissioned to replace her father George VI, too ill to be able to ride, and destined to die - giving her the crown. - the next year. 

See also

:

The first to appear next to Elizabeth II, in the role that in the past had always been the inseparable Prince consort

, who died almost centenary in 2021, was according to the ceremonial

, His Majesty's elderly cousin.

With him, the queen also carried out the so-called inspection of the troops, who returned to the courtyard of Buckingham Palace after the parade conducted in the surroundings. 

Then the "active service members" of the Royal Family: Prince Charles, 73-year-old heir, with his wife Camilla;

the eldest son of these William, second in line of succession, with Kate and the princes George, Charlotte and Louis (

);

as well as two other children of the queen, the second, Anna, and the fourth, Edoardo, with his family. 

See also:

Harry and Meghan are there, but not on the balcony

Harry and Meghan did not appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, absent from all the official appointments of the Platinum Jubilee after the 'tear' of 2020. However, it seems that they are the most 'trendy' on the media and on social networks.  

According to a poll among the readers of the online newspaper Independent, Harry and Meghan are among the most loved royals, according to a YouGov poll, they would be at an all-time low in terms of popularity.

In short, they manage to polarize attention not only in common opinions, but also among the media: conservative newspapers are critical, in favor of the more progressive ones.   

There is great anticipation for the family reunion of the dukes with the royals, two years after the last meeting.

Their children Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, will also be with them and the latter will be introduced to the royal family for the first time. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

, which overlooks the main square of the event, along with other grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth who did not take part in the carriage procession or all 'appearance on the balcony, as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenia. 

Prince Andrew has Covid

will not participate in the events of the Platinum Jubilee either

.

In any case, his presence was not contemplated today at the Trooping of Color parade. 

Only "members of the royal family who perform public duties on behalf of the Queen" and their children appeared on the balcony of the Palace, and Andrea was excluded from any public role after the Epstein scandal.

The new portrait of Elizabeth II

On the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee, a

has been released , in which she appears radiant sitting near a window in Windsor Castle. 

In her message to the nation, the monarch said she was "inspired by the goodwill" shown to her by her subjects and wished the celebrations would provide an opportunity to reflect on the country's successes since 1952, when her long Kingdom.    

"Thanks to all who have been involved in bringing together communities, families, neighbors and friends to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee, in the UK and throughout the Commonwealth," said the sovereign, 96 years old including 70 on the British throne. .

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The new portrait of Queen Elizabeth

Thursday 2nd June

The highlight of the Platinum Jubilee was definitely the

.

The parade was attended by more than

, as well as members of the royal family on horseback and in carriages. 

At the end of the parade while the fighters of the RAF, the Royal Air Force, darted in the skies, the traditional view from the balcony of the closest members of the royal family. 

In the evening, the queen is expected to reappear to turn on the highest spotlight in Buckingham Palace park, placed on the

monument at 21 meters high, simultaneously with a global light show that will see 3000 lighthouses illuminate across the country. and in the Commonwealth nations.   

Friday 3 June

June 3 is dedicated to the religious liturgy of thanksgiving for Elizabeth II's long reign in London's St. Paul's Cathedral.

, the largest bell in Great Britain,

will signal the start of the mass .

Harry and Meghan should also be present at this ceremony.

Saturday 4th June

On Saturday 4th June the royal family will participate in horse racing at Epsom Downs and at the Platinum Party, enlivened by a parade of attractions and then by a mega concert of British and international stars.

22,000 spectators are expected outside Buckingham Palace. 

Present, among the many stars, Rod Stewart, Ed Sheeran, Sir David Attenborough, David Beckham, the Duran Duran, Brian May, Andrea Bocelli, Nile Rodgers, Hans Zimmer, Alicia Keys, Craig David, George Ezra and many others.

Elton John, on the other hand, engaged in Italy on his last career tour, will not be there, but he recorded a performance.

Sunday 5th June

The long weekend ends on Sunday 5 June with Big Jubilee Lunches, parties and banquets offered to subjects and guests in various public places of the Kingdom, including the parks of various royal residences.

At 2.30 pm begins the "Platinum Jubilee Pageant", the parade led by the legendary golden carriage Gold State Coach of 1762, led by the royal guards of the "Sovereign's Escort" who will tell the story of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and will end in front of Buckingham Palace, where the national anthem God Save the Queen will be played, sung by Ed Sheeran.

Parties and picnics across the kingdom

Garden parties will be everywhere: just think that at John Lewis, deck chair sales increased by 1,965% and teapots by 317% compared to last week.

The government has extended the closing time of the pubs until one in the morning, to allow partying until late, and televisions across the country will offer a special uninterrupted program to broadcast the jubilee acts: the religious service in the cathedral of Saint Paul tomorrow, Saturday the big concert near Buckingham and the Jubilee Parade on Sunday.   

Union Jack flags fly everywhere in the streets and gardens, the face of the queen, the only elderly monarch in British history to touch the milestone of 70 years of reign, is everywhere.

The subjects have indulged themselves and the tributes are the strangest: there are those who knitted the effigy of the monarch, in a great evening dress, complete with decorations and choirs alongside her;

who replicated it, life-size, but building it with sponge cake and marzipan;

at Legoland Buckingham Palace was replicated, complete with a military procession.

There are also those who have replicated the silhouettes of the Family overlooking the balcony of the Royal Palace.