Thousands of well-wishers celebrated The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as the parade and muster was given a thunderous Red Arrows finale.
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The Queen grinned and chatted with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh during a musical pageant led by six massed bands and servicemen and women from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
People lined the streets to cheer and wave Union Jack flags as the 2,500 Armed Forces troops marched past the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle.
A flypast of RAF Typhoons in the Diamond Nine formation drew applause from the crowds in the arena and on the parade route.
Other highlights were a formation of 20 Tucanos in the shape of “60”, 27 Hawks in an “E II R” formation, a Lancaster bomber with two Spitfires and the colourful Red Arrows display.
It also included helicopters, Hercules, VC10 and Tornado aircraft.
Today’s pageant – the first major national event of the Diamond Jubilee – finished with the National Anthem.
The Queen then met servicemen and women at a drinks reception, before being shown a special cake made by members of the Armed Forces.
She then joined around 100 special guests for lunch.
The Queen wore a turquoise silk, lace and sequinned dress with a matching coat and hat by designer Angela Kelly.
The Duke of York wore the uniform of a Rear Admiral, while the Earl of Wessex wore the uniform of an Honorary Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry.
The Princess Royal was in the naval uniform of a Vice Admiral in her role of Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy, the Duke of Kent was in a Field Marshal’s uniform and the Duke of Gloucester was in an RAF No. 1 uniform, which is ceremonial dress.
Outside in Windsor town centre, the crowds spoke of their pride in the country and the Armed Forces.
Irene Dunne, who travelled from west London for the day, said: “I think brilliant just about sums it up.
“It made me feel very proud and very excited about the Jubilee celebrations in London. We are going to watch the river pageant, then have a street party.”
Dee Dean, also from west London, said: “Nobody does this stuff better than the British. Our Marines are the best in the world.”
Source: Mirror (UK)
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