NATION PUTS ON PARTY FOR QUEEN’S 90th CELEBRATIONS
FROM the Trooping the Colour ceremony to parties in the street, celebrations were held across the country yesterday to mark the Queen’s official 90th birthday. Thousands turned out to celebrate the monarch’s milestone as Princess Charlotte made her first Buckingham Palace balcony appearance.
And three cheers rang out across The Mall for the Queen after she marked her 90th birthday with the traditional pomp and pageantry of the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Surrounded by some 45 members of her family, the monarch smiled and waved from the balcony as she acknowledged the good wishes of the crowds which were larger than in previous years.
Her 13-month-old great-granddaughter Charlotte – sucking on a finger to combat apparent teething – took the event in her stride and acknowledged the traditional flypast of historic and modern aircraft by putting one hand over an ear as she was held by the Duchess of Cambridge.
Wave after wave of military aircraft – from a Spitfire and Hurricane, made famous during the Battle of Britain, to modern fighters like the Typhoon – roared overhead with the Red Arrows trailing red, white and blue smoke to end the display.
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry stood by the Queen who was the centre of attention in her neon green ensemble.
Her life is being celebrated this weekend as the nation pays tribute to Britain’s longest reigning and oldest sovereign with formal ceremonies and carnival street parties.
After Friday’s poignant St Paul’s Cathedral service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s life, the Trooping the Colour ceremony was all precision displays of formation marching by the immaculately turned out troops.
And Wales joined in the celebrations, holding carnival street parties, ceremonies and events to mark the event.
A Royal gun salute was held yesterday outside the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay with crowds gathered next to the Senedd.
The Royal Salute was fired by C Troop 211 Battery, which forms part of 104 Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Raglan Barracks in Newport,p before the Goat Majorj was led past onlookers and the military tary band marched past those se who had come out to watchch the spectacle.
Well-wishers across the countryntry also dusted down their r fold-out tables, unpackedked bunting and hoped the weather would remain dry for atmospheric parties. ties.
Bunting was set up, finger sandwiches were buttered and served up while tables and chairs were set out so well-wishers could make a toast to the Queen.
One street party was held Abercarn, near Newport.
The town’s Railway Terrace was blocked off and transformed with bunting, banners, balloons, tables and chairs and it came alive with more than 50 families turning out to soak up the atmosphere.
Angela Dugmore, who helped organise the day along with the rest of the community, went along with her family and said the special day had been planned for about six weeks.
The mum-of-four said the street normally celebrated major events to do with the Royal Family and was thankful for the good weather. in She said: “We always have a street party for anything like that. “We always had it when we were younger. You want the memories for your children.” Angela thanked fellow organiser Angela Murphy, who had put in a lot of effort to make the dayy a success.
Fam Families also gathered in Cardiff to ce celebrate the monarch’s milesto milestone, with street parties in St Helen’ Helen’s Road, Heath, and Sherborne Avenue,A Cyncoed, to name a few.
Men Men, women and children donne donned their Union Jack flags, hats and Qu Queen masks to get the parties under way in streets that were filled withw bunting, bouncy castles and ple plenty of smiling people.
One Cardiff attendee, Nia John, 10, ev even decided to dress her pet cat Puss in a crown for the d day.
The country also saw an e extension of pub opening h hours on Friday and last ni night to help foster a party atmos mosphere. Pic Picnics, ceremonies and services a are also planned for today to carry o on with the jubilations.
Ther There will be a picnic in Bryn Pydew Pydew, near Llandudno Junction,