The United Kingdom celebrates this Thursday the 70 years on the throne of Elizabeth II, the longest-living queen she has ever had and the first to reach seven decades of reign.
The four days of the Platinum Jubilee kicked off with the Trooping the Colour, the traditional military parade that has been organized every year since 1760 for the birthday of the monarch who rules the country.
Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations kick off with 'Trooping the Colour' military parade
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Several protesters were arrested for managing to jump the security barriers and enter the parade route.
The Animal Rebellion group claimed a protest to "reclaim the real land."
The 96-year-old queen stepped out onto the main balcony of Buckingham Palace with several members of her family, waiting for 70 planes to take to the London sky.
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The commemorations include a church service on Friday at St. Paul's Cathedral, a concert in Buckingham on Saturday, and a parade by thousands of performers from schools and community groups across the country on Sunday afternoon.
That day, 16,000 neighborhood celebrations are planned throughout the country.
"I know that many happy memories will be made during these celebrations," the queen declared, "I continue to be inspired by the goodwill that has been shown to me and I hope that the coming days will give us an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the past 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.
Throughout her reign, Elizabeth II has met 14 prime ministers and has greeted all the presidents of the United States since Harry Truman (1945-1953), except Lyndon Johnson.
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"The queen has represented our best version for more than 70 years," former Prime Minister John Mayor told British public broadcaster.
The Jubilee represents a moment of celebration for the queen and the nation after two dark years marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the death of Prince Philip and various scandals that have affected the royal family, in addition to his health problems.
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One of the loudest was the departure of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle at the beginning of 2020, alleging "lack of support and understanding" by the institution, as revealed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, a decision that tensed the relationship between the youngest son of Prince Charles and Diana with his brother William, heir to the throne.
The couple, who reside in California, have traveled with their two children to the United Kingdom to celebrate the Jubilee with the queen.
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The other major scandal that shook the institution was the complaint of sexual abuse of a minor against Prince Andrew, Elizabeth II's third son, whom Buckingham withdrew all his military titles and removed from public life.
The Platinum Jubilee also coincides with the political crisis caused by the parties held in Downing Street during the confinement and that haunts the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
The health of the queen has also worried the British in recent times.
At the beginning of the year she contracted coronavirus, although she was able to keep part of her agenda, but the mobility problems that she suffered later forced her to miss the opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years.
With information from
AP
,
NBC News
and
El País