Queen “humbled and touched “ by platinum jubilee celebration

The Queen says she is “humbled and deeply touched” by the Platinum Jubilee celebrations that have taken place across the UK and Commonwealth.
In a “thank you message”, she said she had been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship she had seen.

Earlier, the Queen waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as a long weekend of celebrations, culminating in a Platinum Pageant, drew to a close.

She was flanked by three generations of her family.

Her appearance rounded off a huge star-studded Jubilee pageant along The Mall which saw carnival floats celebrating the seven decades of her reign.

Jubilee parties and street lunches have also been held across the UK.

The pageant began with a military parade with personnel from the UK’s armed forces and from across the Commonwealth.

The 260-year-old Gold State Coach which carried the Queen, who is 96, to her coronation in 1953 rode through the streets, with the Queen appearing as a hologram inside.

As the floats made their way past during the two hour show, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George – the next three generations of monarchs – all watched from the royal box.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge later tweeted: “Amazing display of street art, theatre, music, sport and more… what a joyous occasion!”