Platinum Jubilee live updates: Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne
The country is hailing its highly popular monarch with four days of pageantry and parties as she becomes the first to celebrate an anniversary billed as the Platinum Jubilee. As her reign enters what is likely its closing act, the jubilee represents a moment of light for the queen, her family and the nation after two dark years marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, the death of Prince Philip and royal scandals.
Join us as we follow along with the royal festivities in London and beyond.
What’s happening today:
- Celebrations began with the queen’s birthday parade, known as Trooping the Color.
- A Royal Air Force flypast was watched by crowds in London and four generations of the royal family from the famed Buckingham Palace balcony.
- Later in the day, more than 2,000 towns and cities in Britain and overseas will light beacons to mark the jubilee.
Queen’s cousin joined her on the balcony for the military parade
Perhaps one of the lesser well known royals to join the queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palce was her cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
Now, 86, the Duke of Kent served in the British army for 21 years, before he retired in 1976 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Known for his passionate advocacy for honoring veterans, especially those that fought in World Wars I and II, hze was promoted to Field Marshal in 1993.
But he is perhaps best known for his involvement with the Wimbledon tennis championships. As President of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 1969, each summer he presents the winners’ trophies to the champions at the end of the tournament.
With his wife of 60-years, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, he has three children, George, Earl of St Andrews, 59; Lady Helen Taylor, 58, and Lord Nicholas Windsor, 51.