The United Kingdom held a massive four-day party to celebrate the historic 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Summary
The United Kingdom celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, holding a four-day-long party to commemorate her 70 years on the throne.
- The four-day celebrations included a massive military parade in London attended by thousands, street festivals, and beacon lightings across the United Kingdom and the nations of the Commonwealth.
- Over 11 million people watched Saturday night’s ‘Platinum Party at the Palace’ concert, featuring performances from Diana Ross, Elton John, Queen, Rod Stewart, and Alicia Keys and a tribute from her son and heir apparent, Prince Charles.
- The concert opened with a surprise video of the Queen having tea with the iconic British children’s character Paddington Bear. Paddington offered the Queen his favorite snack, a marmalade sandwich, but the Queen pulled her own marmalade sandwich – “for emergencies” – out of her handbag.
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reunited with the Royal Family for the first time since their acrimonious split and tell-all interview with Oprah, even though “lingering bitterness” remains.
- As Britain celebrated its head of state, its head of government’s political position grew increasingly treacherous. Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces the serious threat of an internal revolt that could bring down his government after the ‘Partygate’ scandal and low poll numbers.
- The Guardian covered the Platinum Jubilee pageant, where tens of thousands watched the parade featuring a hologram of the Queen on the gold-encrusted royal stagecoach.
- CNN published a photo gallery of ‘Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in pictures’, including Britons dancing in the streets and the viral photo of Prince Louis covering his ears during a Royal Air Force flyover.
- Amid the pageantry, the Sunday Times reported on the ‘coming storm’ facing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who looks “increasingly exposed” to a no-confidence vote this month that could sink his premiership.
- The Wall Street Journal wrote the Platinum Jubilee presages a “reckoning” for the monarchy after Queen Elizabeth passes away. Her passing would “sever Britain’s last high-profile living link to its age of empire and of victory in World War II” and could disrupt the monarchy at home in the UK and in its former colonies like Australia and Jamaica that still recognize her as Queen.
- The Telegraph covered the “funny faces” of “mischievous” Prince Louis, the youngest son of Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. Louis’s goofy expressions have been the viral star of the weekend.
- Fox News’ writeup on ‘what to know about ‘Platinum Party at the Palace’ includes video clips and photos from Saturday’s star-studded bash.
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© Dominic Moore, 2022
