the queen’s platinum jubilee party is in full swing

The Queen of England returned to her Windsor Castle, about thirty kilometers from London, after appearing on the balcony on Thursday. In the evening, she was then to touch the Commonwealth Globe, a blue sphere set in a replica crown.

At that time, a light installation 21 meters high was to be set ablaze in front of Buckingham Palace in London, under the eyes of Prince William, second in the order of succession behind his father Charles, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales.

At the same time, 3,500 beacons were set to light up across the UK, from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle to the country’s four tallest peaks. Some witnesses came on earlier, in 54 Commonwealth countries, depending on each other’s time zones.

►Headline: The world pays tribute to the Queen of England who celebrates her 70th anniversary of reign

An official beacon was created for the Jubilee: a large torch, again in the shape of a globe, surmounted by a crown. In slightly more rural areas, torches had to be replaced by bonfires, reports our correspondent in London, Emeline Wine.

This torch-lighting ceremony was to be done to the sound of bagpipes, a song having also been composed especially for the Jubilee filled with symbols of unity and communion, in a kingdom that has not always been very united lately, on a background of Brexit.

“She is what makes us proud to be British”

This Thursday, the festivities started with the military parade and the aerial parade, in the middle of an impressive crowd. Lorraine and two of her friends, who arrived at 8:30 a.m. wearing festive hats and flocked “Jubilee” t-shirts, weren’t even able to access the giant screens to watch the festivities.

The three friends finally followed the ceremony on their phones. Lorraine:

We don’t miss any royal event, and we’ve never seen so many people. I was even there at the coronation, even though I was too young to remember! Usually we come the day before and camp in the street, but we get too old. Yes, we’re disappointed, but it’s not going to spoil our party.

Blocked too, Steve had yet been even more far-sighted, bringing back plaids, a picnic, and British flags to celebrate the queen.

She represents everything. It is she who makes us proud to be British. And then, the amount of money that she brings to the country, and all the charity work that she does… She and the Royal Family do so much for us.

►Read also: June 2, 1953, Elizabeth II has an appointment with history

In the crowd: Londoners, Britons, but also many tourists, especially from Commonwealth countries. Elizabeth II symbolically remains, to this day, head of state in many of them, as in Canada where there is no president. Mike traveled from Vancouver.

We love the Queen, I’m a big fan of the Crown, we’re not ready to give her up in Canada. Also, I love people watching, so it’s a perfect experience for me.

“If it’s William, the monarchy will survive”

The government speaks of “over 200,000 local events and block parties” across the UK over the four days. Thursday, on the sidelines of the “flag salute”, the drums rang out for hours as people hoped to catch a glimpse of a member of the royal family.

Questioned by our special correspondent in London, Clea BroadhurstCheryl, in her 60s, hopes that Elizabeth, already holder of the longevity record once held by Victoria for a sovereign in the United Kingdom, will remain for a few more years, since she intends to die on the throne.

Oh my God, I hope she doesn’t give up, I hope she hangs on! She said she would give her life and she just gave us 70 years of her life. So please my God, let her be persistent! Because I think everything will change if Charles succeeds him. If it’s William, the monarchy will survive. I think we have to make room for the younger generation, William is made for that.

The crowd cheered when Prince William, 39, rode past, dressed in his red uniform and black headgear so dear to the British.

Nick, an Australian now living in London, is less enthusiastic. His country, despite its continental scale and its remoteness, has no head of state other than the Queen of England, either.

It’s good for them to have come this far, but if there was a small revolution, I would support it. Australians, we’re very relaxed, so we won’t do anything until “Liz” is gone. But after that, I think we will become a Republic. The rest of the royal family doesn’t really interest us. No rush ; obviously, as long as the Queen is here, we are happy to be part of the Commonwealth. But then…probably not.

The queen is celebrated with great fanfare until the end of the weekend. Many hope it will reach 100 years old.

I think we’ve been extremely lucky in this country to have the Queen with us for so long. The day she leaves, those of my generation, and those who are a little older, will really feel that the sky is falling on our heads. All my life, she has been in the landscape. I was a little too young to remember her coronation, but she looks fantastic, and I hope these festivities go well.

I’m a 68 year old, she’s been on the throne longer than that! There were arrests during the parade, anti-monarchy protesters, Republicans… Really, as we go through tough times… Yeah, there’s a lot of money spent on these events, when there’s poverty here too. But what to do ? Get rid of all that, the royal family? I believe that the majority of the British are in favor of keeping the monarchy.

►Platinum Jubilee: Weakened, Queen Elizabeth II does not consider abdication or regency