Remembering Queen’s joyous Platinum Jubilee celebrations in pictures

One of Queen Elizabeth II’s last official engagements with Prince Charles was during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer.

The 96-year-old died ‘peacefully’ at Balmoral on Thursday, with her eldest son – now King Charles III – and her daughter Princess Anne by her side.

Her death comes as a shock to the nation, which marked her 70th anniversary on the throne just a few months ago.

Pictures from the Trooping the Colour in June showed the late royal and Charles all smiles, standing side by side on Buckingham Palace’s balcony.

As the Red Arrows flew over the crowds, the two can be seen gesturing at the sky and chatting away.

This is now one of the last public moments he had with his beloved ‘mama’, who he thanked wistfully in his first public address as King.

In recent years, Her Majesty scaled back her royal duties due to her declining health.

Her mobility issues meant she attended fewer events during the Jubilee than the public had hoped for.

The once-in-a-lifetime celebrations culminated in a weekend of events watched on TV by millions of people across the world.

They began with Trooping the Colour, a centuries-old tradition which takes place every year to honour the Queen’s birthday.

The parade on June 2 saw the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, and 1,200 officers and soldiers put on a display of military pageantry on Horse Guards Parade.

Crowds gathered in St James’ Park in central London to watch the event on large screens.

As the Jubilee excitement continued, the National Service of Thanksgiving took place on the following day at St Paul’s Cathedral.

While the Queen did not attend the ceremony, attendees caught a glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Joseph Afrane, 58, said he woke up at 3am that day in anticipation for the event.

He arrived at St Paul’s at 5am and found a position opposite the steps to the cathedral.

‘I’m a big royal fan,’ he told Metro.co.uk. ‘I wanted to support her [the Queen] and show my solidarity.’

The Party in the Palace on Saturday saw the likes of pop legends Diana Ross and Sam Ryder performing.

While the Queen herself was not at the event in person, she did appear in a pre-recorded comedy sketch with Paddington Bear.

The weekend ended with the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which told the fascinating story of the Queen’s seven-decade reign and Britain’s transforming society. 

More than 10,000 people were involved – including the military, more than 6,000 volunteers, performers, key workers, and 2,500 members of the general public.

The crowds were treated to a hologram of the royal as a young woman waving at them from inside the Gold State Coach last used at her coronation.

Joined by Charles, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Queen made an appearance on the balcony.

In a statement shared on the Royal Family’s social media, she said afterwards: ‘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.

‘I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions.

‘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 seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.’

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