Queen Elizabeth Celebrates 70 Years on The Throne

Celebrations marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee have kicked off in London and around the United Kingdom, with huge crowds lining the streets of the British capital to catch a glimpse of the festivities.

The Queen, 96, appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with other working royals as the Royal Air Force performed a fly-over featuring the Red Arrows aerobatic flight team as well as historic military aircraft.

The Platinum Jubilee will feature four days of parties, parades and pomp to pay tribute to the 96-year-old monarch and her 70-year reign on the British throne.

The celebrations began on Thursday morning with Trooping the Colour, a military parade performed by members of the British Army which dates back to the 17th century.

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Part of the parade was interrupted by several protesters, who jumped crowd barriers and ran out onto the Mall boulevard in front of Buckingham Palace and laid on the road in front of a marching band.

Police were quick to drag the men away.

It comes as police warn people to stay away from the event, with viewing sites quickly filling up.

“The viewing areas in central London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are now full,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

“To avoid the disappointment of not being able to enter the viewing areas please avoid the area.”

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Earlier on Thursday, the Queen thanked those involved in the celebrations to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

Prince Charles, 73, Prince William, 39, and the Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, arrived on horseback. 

Charles and William will carry out other ceremonial duties on the Queen’s behalf, although much attention will be focused on those who will not be present.

Second son Prince Andrew, 62, who settled a US lawsuit in February in which he was accused of sexually abusing American woman Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she 17, is not expected to attend.

Prince Harry, now living in Los Angeles with his wife Meghan, attended the parade but was absent when the royal family gathered on the palace balcony to watch the fly-past.