Queen joined by royal family on Buckingham Palace balcony at Trooping the Colour during Platinum Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth has stood with working members of the royal family during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace in a spectacular start to the Platinum Jubilee.
The 96-year-old used a walking stick to make her way onto the balcony for her first of two appearances, overseeing the troops returning from the Horse Guards Parade.
A short time later she was joined with working members of her family for the famous flypast, a six-minute display of aircraft, now wearing her sunglasses.
READ MORE: Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations begin with Trooping the Colour
Queen Elizabeth on the Buckingham Palace balcony with members of the royal family celebrating her Platinum Jubilee. Getty
Among those on the balcony with Her Majesty included the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four.
Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence and the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise and Viscount Severn were also present on the balcony.
READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan spotted during Trooping the Colour
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on June 2, 2022. AP
They stood to watch the six-minute fly-past of more than 70 aircraft, featuring Apache helicopters, Typhoons and The Red Arrows.
Aircraft from the Royal Navy, the Army and Royal Air Force flew over Buckingham Palace after Trooping the Colour.
READ MORE: Prince Louis steals the show during aircraft flypast
(L-R) The Duke of Kent, Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor and Prince Edward, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace watch Trooping the Colour for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on June 2, 2022. Getty
The first that appeared were the Royal Navy Wildcat, Royal Navy Merlin and British Army Apache helicopters.
Those who joined the Queen on the balcony were those undertaking official working duties on behalf of the Crown, and their children.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Louis watch from the balcony of Buckingham Place after the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022, on the first of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. AP
The Queen was seen leaning down to speak to her youngest great-grandchild at one point – Prince Louis – as the aircraft passed overhead.
READ MORE: Cambridge children mark first carriage ride at Trooping the Colour
Queen Elizabeth during her first of two balcony appearances at Trooping the Color on Thursday June 2, 2022. AP
Prince Harry and Meghan, who were spotted watching the earlier Horse Guards Parade from the Major General's Office, were not among the royals on the palace balcony.
The couple was seen speaking with the Queen's other grandchildren and great-grandchildren including Isla and Savannah Phillips and Mia and Lena Tindall during the first part of the spectacle.
Meghan was wearing a navy blue outfit, with a cream hat and navy bow.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade on June 02, 2022 in London, England, Getty
READ MORE: The sweet detail in Kate's outfit at Trooping the Colour
The Queen was expected to have lunch with members of her family after Trooping the Colour before returning to Windsor Castle for the lighting of the Platinum Jubilee beacon.
The principal beacon will be lit by Prince William in London while at the same time the Queen will light another from the quadrangle of Windsor Castle.
They are among the 54 beacons being lit across the Commonwealth including Australia, while thousands of others are being illuminated in the UK.
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