The Queen has thanked all those involved in her Platinum Jubilee celebrations as four days of pomp, parties, parades and public holidays begin, heralding her record-breaking 70 years on the British throne.
Millions of people across Britain and the world are expected to join the festivities starting on Thursday in honour of the 96-year-old, who has reigned for longer than any of her predecessors, the government said.
Elizabeth, holding a walking stick and wearing a dusky dove blue outfit that she also wore for an official Jubilee photograph released on Thursday, took the salute from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Senior members of the royal family including Elizabeth's son and heir Prince Charles, his eldest son William and wife Kate arrived at a military parade on horseback or in an open carriage to huge cheers, while world leaders also sent messages of goodwill.
"I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm."
Families and friends gathered in bright sunshine on the main grand roads running up to Buckingham Palace, cheering the regimental marching bands, waving Union flags and wearing paper crowns. Many had slept on the streets to secure a good position.
Others descended on nearby parks to enjoy picnics and follow the proceedings on big screens.
A number of people briefly caused a disturbance by running out in front of marching soldiers on the Mall boulevard before they were dragged away by police. Police said several people were arrested for public order offences.
In a sign of the monarch's advancing years and recent "episodic mobility" issues which have led her to cancel some engagements, Elizabeth's personal involvement in the events might be somewhat limited.
MILITARY PARADE
Elizabeth took the salute from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Senior royals, including Charles, 73, and William, 39, will also carry out other ceremonial duties on the queen's behalf, although much attention will be focused on those who will not be present.
The queen's second son Prince Andrew, 62, who settled a U.S. lawsuit in February in which he was accused of sexually abusing a woman when she was underage, is not expected to attend.
Her grandson Prince Harry, now living in Los Angeles with his American wife Meghan, will attend the parade but will be absent when the royal family gathers on the palace balcony to watch a fly-past by modern and historic Royal Air Force planes after the parade.
There will also be gun salutes in London, across Britain and from Royal Navy ships at sea at midday, while in the evening beacons will be lit across the country and the Commonwealth, with the queen leading the lighting of the Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon at her Windsor Castle home.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis and former British prime ministers were among those sending messages of goodwill. Read full story
Thursday marks not only the start of the Jubilee, but also the 69th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth, who became queen on the death of her father George VI in February 1952.
Opinion polls show she remains hugely popular and respected among British people, with one survey this week showing eight in 10 people held a positive view of her, and another found three-quarters thought she had done a good job as queen.
"I cannot think of any other public figure, any other celebrity, any other president ... who could possibly have remained so popular," former Prime Minister John Major told BBC radio.
"Her life has been played out in public - the highs, the lows, the good bits and not so good bits. The queen has represented our better selves for over 70 years," said Major, one of 14 leaders to have served under Elizabeth.
Not everyone will be joining in the festivities though.
Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, which is putting up the message "Make Elizabeth the last" on billboards across Britain, said another poll showed more than half of the public were not interested in the jubilee.
The Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977, her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Thursday marks not only the start of the Platinum Jubilee, but also the 69th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth, who became Queen on the death of her father George VI in February 1952.
The celebrations begin with the Trooping the Colour military parade in central London, and for the first time the Queen will take the salute from the 1500 soldiers and officers from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Friday will see a thanksgiving service at London's St Paul's Cathedral, while on Saturday royal family members will attend the Epsom Derby horse race.
Later, there will be a concert outside Buckingham Palace, featuring the likes of rock group Queen, American R&B singer Alicia Keys and US singer Diana Ross.
On Sunday, officials estimate more than 16,000 street parties will take place in Britain, and the British government says some 600 "Big Jubilee Lunches" will be held in 80 countries from Greenland to New Zealand.
Celebrations will conclude with a pageant through the British capital.
STILL POPULAR
"The Queen is what is great in Great Britain," said Mary-Jane Willows (69) from Cornwall, southwest England, who was camping out on the Mall boulevard, leading to Buckingham Palace, where lamposts are bedecked in Union flags.
"Without the Queen, Britain would be Britain, but she makes it great. She stands for everything that I am proud of."
Not everyone will be joining in the festivities though. Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, which is putting up the message "Make Elizabeth the last" on billboards across Britain, said a survey showed more than half of the public were not interested in the jubilee.
But, for superfans like American Donna Werner (70) who had travelled over from Connecticut and was also camping on the Mall, the royals and the Queen remain captivating.
"She’s just a role model," said Werner, who regularly comes to Britain for major royal occasions having made her first trip back in 1986. "I mean she’s just a wonderful leader and I just wanted to celebrate with her on her 70 years of being Queen."
