Platinum Jubilee: Seven decades of balcony moments celebrating the Queen’s 70-year reign | UK News

The Queen is expected to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Thursday as Trooping the Colour is celebrated in London for the first time since the pandemic.

Thousands are expected to gather along the Mall to see the Royal Family as a weekend of events marking Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee begin.

Here is a look back at some of the Queen’s most famous balcony moments.

1977 – Silver Jubilee

The Queen has had three major jubilees. The first was her Silver Jubilee in 1977, marking 25 years on the throne.

It was celebrated with large-scale street parties and parades up and down the country.

An estimated one million people lined the route of a procession to St Paul’s Cathedral, where the Royal Family attended a service of thanksgiving.

2002 – Golden Jubilee

In 2002, the Queen celebrated 50 years on the throne, in a year that began with personal tragedy after her sister Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother died in February and March respectively.

There was a musical theme through the celebrations, with more than 200 towns and cities across the UK publicly playing the Beatles’ song All You Need Is Love.

The Royal Family also attended the Party at the Palace – with headline acts including Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton.

2012 – Diamond Jubilee

Ten years later, the Queen celebrated 60 years since her accession to the throne.

She became only the second British monarch to reach the milestone – with Queen Victoria being the first in 1897.

More than 1,000 boats escorted the Queen, who was aboard a specially decorated royal barge, down the River Thames for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.