Highlights from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend

By Staff reporter
Published 5th Jun 2022, 20:38 GMT
Updated 5th Jun 2022, 20:55 GMT
placeholder image

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations have seen antics on the balcony, flag-waving Windsors and an unexpected royal double act with a famous bear.

Here are some of the highlights from the four days of festivities.

The Jubilee Queen

After 70 years on the throne, the Queen remains the leading lady with the crowds roaring and erupting into three cheers as she stepped onto the Palace balcony, not once but twice, on the first day.placeholder image
After 70 years on the throne, the Queen remains the leading lady with the crowds roaring and erupting into three cheers as she stepped onto the Palace balcony, not once but twice, on the first day.

But the brief appearances left the 96-year-old tired.

She rallied to attend a special beacon lighting at Windsor Castle in the evening.placeholder image
She rallied to attend a special beacon lighting at Windsor Castle in the evening.

But the Palace announced she would be missing the church service on the Friday.

Then, as the finale, the Queen appeared on the balcony after the Pageant on Sunday, bringing the proceedings to a close.placeholder image
Then, as the finale, the Queen appeared on the balcony after the Pageant on Sunday, bringing the proceedings to a close.

Dressed in a vibrant green double crepe wool dress and coat, she was flanked by a ‘magnificent seven’ of future kings and queens and great-grandchildren as the crowds sang the national anthem.

Scenes on The Mall

The Great British public took to the celebrations with gusto, with hundreds of thousands of flag-waving royal fans packing onto The Mall in central London.placeholder image
The Great British public took to the celebrations with gusto, with hundreds of thousands of flag-waving royal fans packing onto The Mall in central London.
Spring sunshine set the mood for jubilant scenes on Thursday as the crowds gathered in honour of the monarch after the Trooping the Colour spectacle on Thursday.placeholder image
Spring sunshine set the mood for jubilant scenes on Thursday as the crowds gathered in honour of the monarch after the Trooping the Colour spectacle on Thursday.

Louis steals the show

The youngest Cambridge sibling provided the entertainment and captured hearts from the Palace balcony.placeholder image
The youngest Cambridge sibling provided the entertainment and captured hearts from the Palace balcony.

Four-year-old Louis let out a howl and covered his ears during the Jubilee flypast, with his “Gan Gan” the Queen sweetly interacting with her great-grandson, leaning down to chat to him and point out the planes.

He sat on grandpa the Prince of Wales’ lap at the Jubilee pageant and gave his mum the Duchess of Cambridge a kiss on the cheek and a cuddle.placeholder image
He sat on grandpa the Prince of Wales’ lap at the Jubilee pageant and gave his mum the Duchess of Cambridge a kiss on the cheek and a cuddle.

He stood on his chair, waved his hands in the air, wriggled around and stuck his finger in his ear during the show.

Beacons

A chain of more than 3,500 beacons stretching across the UK and around the Commonwealth were set ablaze late on the first evening marking the Jubilee in the time-honoured way.placeholder image
A chain of more than 3,500 beacons stretching across the UK and around the Commonwealth were set ablaze late on the first evening marking the Jubilee in the time-honoured way.

The principal beacon was a 21-metre living Tree Of Trees sculpture towering above Buckingham Palace, symbolically illuminated by the Queen from Windsor while the Duke of Cambridge watched in London.

The return of Harry and Meghan

It had been a while but the return of the Sussexes for the first time at an official public royal occasion since Megxit drew much media attention.

All eyes were on Harry and Meghan at the service of thanksgiving in St Paul Cathedral on Friday.placeholder image
All eyes were on Harry and Meghan at the service of thanksgiving in St Paul Cathedral on Friday.

But the reunion of Harry and the Duke of Cambridge proved elusive with the Sussexes sat in the second row, far across the aisle from the duke’s father, brother and sister in law Kate.

Penguin feeding and leading the band

Members of the royal family toured the UK, with the Princess Royal feeding penguins in Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland and the Earl of Wessex pulling a pint of Guinness during a trip to Bangor in Northern Ireland.placeholder image
Members of the royal family toured the UK, with the Princess Royal feeding penguins in Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland and the Earl of Wessex pulling a pint of Guinness during a trip to Bangor in Northern Ireland.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte made a surprise appearance at Cardiff Castle on their first official visit to Walesplaceholder image
Prince George and Princess Charlotte made a surprise appearance at Cardiff Castle on their first official visit to Wales

The excited princess conducted the orchestra in a rendition of We Don’t Talk About Bruno from the Disney film Encanto, while George played with the sound and lighting decks, as they met performers preparing for a Jubilee concert at the castle.

The Queen and Paddington bear

The monarch delighted the nation when she starred alongside Paddington in a surprise comedy sketch and showed the bear from deepest darkest Peru how she stored marmalade sandwiches in her famous black Launer handbag.placeholder image
The monarch delighted the nation when she starred alongside Paddington in a surprise comedy sketch and showed the bear from deepest darkest Peru how she stored marmalade sandwiches in her famous black Launer handbag.

Offering a fresh insight into the Queen’s sense of humour and her wry wit, the secretly-filmed skit, played at the start of the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace on Saturday night, showed the pair enjoying a chaotic afternoon tea.

Royal sing-song

The Cambridges enjoyed the party atmosphere as The Firm sang along with the tunes at the Jubilee concert.placeholder image
The Cambridges enjoyed the party atmosphere as The Firm sang along with the tunes at the Jubilee concert.

Prince George belted out Sweet Caroline, while the Duke of Cambridge knew the words to Jason Donovan’s rendition of Any Dream Will Do.

Charles’ moving tribute

“You laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, you have been there for us,” Charles told Queen in a moving thank you toast at the televised concert.placeholder image
“You laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, you have been there for us,” Charles told Queen in a moving thank you toast at the televised concert.

Calling the monarch mummy, he took to the stage to praise the Queen for her “lifetime of selfless service”.

He rallied the crowd into cheering the absent monarch who was 20 miles away at Windsor, saying if they were “loud enough she might, might just hear us”.

Stars of the show

Acts including Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, and Eurovision’s Sam Ryder triumphed at the star-studded show.placeholder image
Acts including Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, and Eurovision’s Sam Ryder triumphed at the star-studded show.

Soul legend Diana Ross closed the open-air set, with her first live performance in the UK in 15 years.

Corgi drones

Drones flying over the Palace created a giant corgi in the sky and spelled out the message “Thank you Ma’am” in lights, thrilling concert goers.placeholder image
Drones flying over the Palace created a giant corgi in the sky and spelled out the message “Thank you Ma’am” in lights, thrilling concert goers.

Big Jubilee Lunches

As many as 18 million people are believed to have gathered with their friends, families and neighbours for traditional Jubilee street parties on Sunday for the final day of the celebrationsplaceholder image
As many as 18 million people are believed to have gathered with their friends, families and neighbours for traditional Jubilee street parties on Sunday for the final day of the celebrations

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall mingled with guests at the flagship Big Jubilee Lunch in The Oval cricket ground.

Charles said he hoped “bickering” does not return after a feeling of “togetherness” across the nation over weekend.

The Pageant

A cast of 6,000 performers took to the streets of central London, with the procession spared the rain.placeholder image
A cast of 6,000 performers took to the streets of central London, with the procession spared the rain.

Attendees enjoyed a parade of hundreds of “national treasures” including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Sir Cliff Richard, with Ed Sheeran taking to the stage to sing at the end.

The Queen’s message

At the end of the weekend, the Queen pledged to continue to serve as monarch “to the best of my ability supported by my family”.placeholder image
At the end of the weekend, the Queen pledged to continue to serve as monarch “to the best of my ability supported by my family”.

It was an acknowledgment of her fragility but a commitment to continue as monarch.

She said in her written message she was “humbled and deeply touched” by the public’s reaction to her 70 years, adding: “While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all.”

Related topics:The Queen
Register
Follow us
© 2026 Formpress Publishing LTD. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice