Queen Elizabeth II, 96, presided over her Platinum Jubilee on June 2, and it was truly a stunning affair. She kicked things off with Trooping the Colour, her official birthday parade, breaking from the traditional second Saturday of June in order to fall in line with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The British sovereign radiated joy while wearing a pale blue coat dress, a matching hat, and pearls. She smiled brightly as she stood alongside Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
She is the first British monarch to celebrate 70 years of service to her people, which she marked on February 6. Now, the Queen celebrates alongside her country across a four-day bank holiday, from June 2 to June 5. The day before the festivities started, an official Platinum Jubilee portrait was released of the Queen in the same pale blue outfit she wore to Trooping the Colour.
At the Trooping the Colour, the working members of the royal family helped her celebrate. Kate Middleton looked stunning in an all-white outfit while riding in a carriage with her three kids and mother-in-law Camilla Parker-Bowles. Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, made their carriage debut at the latest Trooping the Colour. Princess Charlotte looked adorable in a baby blue dress, a similar color to her great-grandmother’s outfit.
Since the parade is for working members of the royal family, we didn’t get a glimpse of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their two kids, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 11 months, just yet. The Trooping the Colour parade will lead up to the British royal family gathering on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, which will also only include working royal family members. This means no Harry, Meghan, Archie, Lilibet, or Prince Andrew, who has been stripped of any royal affiliations after being linked to late convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein.
This year’s celebration is notable because it marks the first time Queen Elizabeth II will be meeting her new great-granddaughter, affectionately known as “Lili.” Despite the balcony snub, Harry, Meghan, and their kids have been invited to church services. The festivities also include a service of thanks at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the famed site of Prince Charles’ lavish 1981 wedding to Princess Diana.
The festivities will continue with a live “Platinum Party” at the palace concert featuring Adam Lambert, Diana Ross, and Andrea Bocelli, among others, drew massive crowds. A glittering performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall will take place on June 4. The Platinum Jubilee celebration will wrap up on June 5 with jubilee street parties for lunch and a 4-act pageant depicting all the most memorable moments from the Queen’s 70-year monarch. Long live the Queen!