‘FILLED WITH MARVEL AND DELIGHT': THE PLATINUM JUBILEE PAGEANT

Pomp and pageantry kicked off the final day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations as a hologram of the young monarch and a military procession launched a spectacular £15million Jubilee Pageant…

In the run-up to The Platinum Jubilee Pageant marking the final big event of the Jubilee weekend, the UK government website announced that with a budget of £15 million it would have “all the excitement and spectacle of an international parade and carnival – awe-inspiring and filled with marvel and delight. The Pageant will combine street arts, theatre, music, circus, carnival and costume to celebrate Her Majesty’s unwavering duty, love of the natural world and dedication to the Commonwealth.”

And so it did indeed turn out.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, Princess Anne, and Zara and Mike Tindall were all seated in the Royal Box alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan to watch the two-mile procession through central London.

The Pageant was split into four acts: For Queen and Country with a military parade; The Time of Our Lives progressing through seven decades of culture, music and fashion; Let’s Celebrate telling the story of the Queen’s life in 12 chapters with corgi puppets and carnival creations; and the Happy and Glorious musical spectacle.

The keenest Royal fans braved the wet, chilly weather and camped out on The Mall overnight to secure the best view of the Pageant. Some came to see the celebrities who performed — like Ed Sheeran, who sang his song “Perfect” while a huge video screen showed pictures of the Queen and her family — while others just wanted to be part of a historical moment.