After a whirlwind four days of events celebrating the Queen’s 70 years on the throne as part of the Platinum Jubilee weekend, today the British royal family was ready to let its hair down. (That is, if they hadn’t already while taking in appearances from Elton John, Diana Ross—and yes, even Paddington Bear—at last night’s Party at the Palace.)
With the exuberant spirit of today’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, they did just that. After the family arrived in the royal box, the show began with the Gold State Coach making its procession down the Mall, here featuring a hologram of Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation day in 1953. Next, a military parade was followed by a fleet of Morris Minors whizzing up the wide street to Buckingham Palace, tailed by a phalanx of motorcyclists riding vintage British bikes.
The royal standard was then raised above the palace to indicate the Queen’s imminent arrival, while a flotilla of open-decked buses transported an eclectic range of British celebrities dancing along to the classic songs blasting through speakers, from Elgar to The Beatles. (One of the buses was even chartered by Charlotte Tilbury, the official beauty partner of the pageant, and included a very different kind of royalty, with a line-up of British fashion stars that included Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Erin O’Connor.)
Then, the royals themselves made an appearance on the balcony, with the Duchess of Cambridge, in particular, standing out with her fuchsia Stella McCartney dress. But it was, of course, the Queen’s moment. The 96-year-old monarch wore an emerald green suit as she broke into a smile, waving to her well-wishers as they continued their carnival-like parade.
To share her thanks, the Queen released a statement soon after the pageant concluded. “When it comes to how to mark 70 years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow,” she said. “It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee. While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.”
She continued: “I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come. I thank you all most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations.”
If that wasn’t enough, today’s celebrations have spread across the entire country. From Prince Charles and Camilla attending a jubilee lunch in south London, to the bizarre tradition of a cheese rolling festival that took place in Gloucestershire (we’ll let the photos do the talking), the Platinum Jubilee ended with a bang.
Here, find everything you need to see from the final day of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
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A hologram of Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation is projected in the Gold State Coach.
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Members of the public wait to watch the Platinum Pageant.
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Members of the public wave flags ahead of the Platinum Pageant.
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Camilla, Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Queen Elizabeth II; Prince George of Cambridge; Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte of Cambridge; Prince Louis of Cambridge; and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge all stand on the balcony during the Platinum Pageant.
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Performers ride vintage motorcycles as part of the pageant.
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Joan Collins and her husband Percy Gibson arrive in a vintage car.
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Ed Sheeran performs.
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The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Louis share a relatable moment.
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And back to all smiles.
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Members of the Household Division march.
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The Teletubbies make an appearance.
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A wide shot of the parade.
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A performer celebrates the spirit of punk.
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A group of drummers march along the Mall.
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An array of British afternoon tea delicacies made from felt are presented to Prince Charles and Camilla at the Big Jubilee Lunch.
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Prince Louis peers through the window of the palace before appearing on the balcony.
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A performer at the parade.
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Another performer appears in an elaborate swan costume.
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Bunting featuring a vintage portrait of the Queen is unraveled.
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A carnival float celebrating the British love for baking.
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A performer dressed as a pansy flower.
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A group pays homage to the Mexican festival of the Day of the Dead.
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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales as they attend the Big Jubilee Lunch at The Oval.
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An eclectic array of British celebrities–Catherine Jenkins, Chris Eubank, Giles Terera and Cliff Richard–ride a bus down the ceremonial route.
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A fleet of vintage Mini Coopers drive down the Mall.
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The Gold State Coach arrives.
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A double-decker bus dedicated to ’60s British culture makes its way down the procession.
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A classic car, carrying Prue Leith of The Great British Break Off, needs extra assistance after breaking down.
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A general view of the parade.
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Contestants in the men’s downhill race chase a wheel of cheese down a hill as part of the annual cheese-rolling competition in Gloucester.
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The winners of this year’s cheese roll emerge victorious.
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A trombonist pays tribute to Queen Victoria.
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Naomi Campbell waves from the Charlotte Tilbury bus.
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Erin O’Connor, Kate Moss, Charlotte Tilbury and Patsy Kensit ride Tilbury’s bus to the palace.
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The royal family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
This story originally appeared in British Vogue.
