Will it rain on Queen’s parade this Sunday?

IT WILL be the highlight of the Queen’s official 90th birthday celebrations – but anyone going to her carnival-style street party on The Mall may want to pack a sturdy raincoat.

Heavy rain is predicted on Sunday, when her Majesty, Prince Philip, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry join 10,000 wellwishers for the Patron’s Lunch, a picnic that forms the centrepiece of three days of official festivities.

Its organisers, led by the Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips, had already planned to provide guests with both a plastic rain poncho and sun cream in anticipation of Britain’s unpredictable weather.

And they insist that the party will go ahead, unless they are advised against it on safety grounds, come rain or shine. A spokesman said: ‘The British people have a very unique sense of humour and, we are sure, will take the conditions in their stride.’ Although the Queen turned 90 in April, this week sees the official celebrations of her birthday, broadcast live on the BBC.The first event is a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral tomorrow. This will be followed by the annual Trooping the Colour on Saturday at Horse Guards then an RAF flypast over Buckingham Palace, at which Prince George is expected to appear.

Sunday is the day of the Patron’s Lunch, designed to celebrate the Queen’s links with more than 600 charities and organisations. The not-for-profit event has been the subject of criticism for charging charity representatives £150 a head to attend in order to cover costs – which include payment to the Queen’s grandson for organising it – but tickets have sold out.

The Met Office said tomorrow will be largely dry, with temperatures of around 21C/70F for the church service. But by Saturday, the day of Trooping the Colour, there will be showers in London.

Sunday is even worse, with a 50 per cent chance of heavy rain. But there is an outside chance it could clear to offer a dry period between ten and four – perfect for the Queen’s birthday picnic. And if the worst happens? Well, you can always stay home and watch it on television.