Queen Elizabeth II kicks off historic jubilee celebrations

The queen later helped light th principal beacon of more than 3,000 across Britain and the Commonwealth

Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday kicked off the first of four days of celebrations marking her record-breaking 70 years on the throne, to cheering crowds of tens of thousands of people.

But the 96-year-old sovereign's appearance at the Platinum Jubilee -- a milestone never previously reached by a British monarch -- took its toll, forcing her to pull out of a planned church service on Friday.

"Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow's national service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend."

But dressed in dove blue, her hands clasped on a walking stick, she appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony to take a salute after the centuries-old Trooping the Colour military parade.

In bright sunshine, The Mall below was awash with red, white and blue union flags, with some die-hard royal fans camping for days to be in prime position for the display of pomp and pageantry.

"We know it's a special occasion because it might be the last day we'll see Her Majesty in a public event," ambulance service worker Gilbert Falconer, 65, told AFP after travelling from Scotland.

Recognition of the queen's unprecedented reign saw tributes from political and religious leaders from across the world, including Pope Francis and US President Joe Biden.

O'Neill's letter would have been unthinkable before the 1998 peace deal that ended years of violence over British rule.

The queen, a keen horsewoman, has previously taken the salute in person at Horse Guards Parade, the site a short ride down The Mall where king Henry VIII once jousted.

Joining him at the parade of the colour or regimental flag of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards was his sister Princess Anne, 71, and his eldest son, Prince William, 39, both in ceremonial uniform.

They kept a low profile while the queen's disgraced second son, Prince Andrew, 62, was not seen and will also miss Friday's service after contracting Covid.

The queen was at Windsor Castle, west of London, on Thursday night for a ceremony to light the principal beacon of more than 3,000 across Britain and the Commonwealth of 54 nations that she heads.

Seventy years on, she is now the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and an enduring figurehead through often troubled times.

On Wednesday the Queen thanked everyone involved in organising community events in Britain and around the world, and said she was "inspired by the goodwill" shown to her.

- 'Celebrating the queen' - 

But it was also a welcome return to normality for the royals.

In April last year, the queen lost her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, and was forced to sit alone at his funeral due to coronavirus restrictions.

Andrew, who in February settled a US civil claim for sexual assault, has effectively been fired from his royal duties.

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