UK’s Queen Elizabeth ends Platinum Jubilee with surprise appearance
- It was the 96-year-old British monarch’s first in-person appearance since Thursday, after she was forced to skip events due to persistent mobility issues
- Using a walking stick for support, the queen remained on the balcony for the singing of the national anthem, God Save The Queen, waving to the crowds
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth appeared on Buckingham Palace’s balcony to huge cheers from crowds of people packed below on Sunday, as four days of celebrations for her historic Platinum Jubilee ended.
Flanked by her immediate heirs, princes Charles, William and George, it was the 96-year-old monarch’s first in-person appearance since Thursday, after she was forced to skip several events since then due to persistent mobility issues.
Using a walking stick for support, and wearing a green outfit with white gloves, the queen remained on the balcony for the singing of the national anthem, God Save The Queen, waving to the crowds before and after to sustained cheering from those below.
The country’s longest-reigning monarch made two public appearances on the balcony on the first day of celebrations on Thursday, but that left her in “some discomfort”, the palace said, amid her increasing difficulties walking and standing.
She withdrew from a Friday thanksgiving church service and missed Saturday’s flat-racing showcase the Epsom Derby for only the fourth time since 1952.
Queen Elizabeth also skipped Saturday night’s spectacular “party at the palace” featuring musicians Diana Ross, Andrea Bocelli and Rod Stewart.