Joy for Queen and her family as thousands join celebrations
A DELIGHTED Queen took centre stage at her historic Platinum Jubilee celebrations as she greeted crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony, surrounded by her family.
Huge cheers erupted from the thousands of well-wishers who were packed onto The Mall in central London as the monarch emerged for the special flypast after Trooping the Colour.
Wearing sunglasses, the 96-year-old sovereign looked joyfulasshesurveyedthepatrioticscenes,givingbroadsmiles as she enjoyed the aircraft display.
It was the second of two appearances from the monarch on the balcony on Thursday the start of the special extended Jubilee weekend marking her 70-year-reign.
Earlier,shejoinedhercousin the Duke of Kent on the famous frontage to take a salute of her soldiers returning from Trooping the Colour, after the Prince of Wales deputised for her on the parade ground.
Eighteen royals including theQueensteppedouttowatch the high-profile flypast, with the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis flanking the monarch.
The Queen leaned over to chat animatedly with her four-year-old great-grandson Louis, who at one stage covered his ears, and reacted with his mouth wide open and eyes tightly shut as the aircraft thundered overhead.
He was also spotted resting his chin on his hand and waving towards the sky.
The six-minute flypast of more than 70 aircraft, including Apache helicopters, Typhoons and The Red Arrows, flew over the Palace.
FifteenRAFTyphoonspaid a special tribute to the monarch's record-breaking reign, flying in the formation of the number 70, prompting smiles from the Queen.
Dressed in a dusky dove blue Angela Kelly coat which sheworeforherofficialJubilee portrait,andmatchinghat,the 96-year-oldQueenwasholding awalkingstickandwearingthe Guards' Badge on her coat.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were among the guests who earlier watched Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards.