'Oh how incredible!' Queen exclaims in delight as she is roared by adoring crowds at Buckingham Palace with thousands lining streets for her Platinum Jubilee - as Meghan and Harry are reunited with royals watching from window Horse Guards Parade
- Queen's Birthday Parade at Horse Guards in London is first official Jubilee event of bank holiday weekend
- Royal fans from around world are stood along The Mall at start of weekend giving £2bn boost to hospitality
- Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to bring Archie and Lilibet along to celebrations in London today
- Queen to light Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon at Windsor later in 'dual ceremony' with Buckingham Palace
- ** Follow MailOnline's liveblog on the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations today by clicking here **
By MARK DUELL FOR MAILONLINE and REBECCA ENGLISH, ROYAL EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 19:19 AEST, 2 June 2022 | UPDATED: 23:10 AEST, 2 June 2022
The Queen exclaimed 'incredible!' from the Buckingham Palace balcony in front of tens of thousands of cheering Britons packing the streets today as the Platinum Jubilee celebrations marking her 70-year reign began.
The 96-year-old monarch, who wore her Guards brooch and the blue Angela Kelly outfit used in her official Platinum Jubilee portrait released last night, took the salute this afternoon after arriving from Windsor Castle.
The Queen could also be seen saying 'what a very good idea', 'here they are' and 'they come pass here' while talking with her cousin the Duke of Kent who accompanied her on the balcony. She also said 'I remember the year before when...', before he replied: 'Yes I know, that's where...'
Other Royal Family members had started off the Trooping the Colour festivities earlier today - with the Duchess of Cambridge and her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis waving for excited crowds.
Meghan Markle also joined in the celebrations, and was seen putting her finger to her lips next to Mia Tindall and Savannah Phillips from a balcony at Horse Guards Parade in an apparent attempt to quieten the children. She was also seen speaking with Prince Harry and the Duke of Kent, who had also appeared with the Queen on the balcony.
Three carriages left the forecourt of Buckingham Palace carrying members of the Royal Family down The Mall this morning, with the Duchess of Cornwall riding alongside Kate Middleton and her children in the first carriage.
George, eight, Charlotte, seven, and three-year-old Louis smiled and waved enthusiastically as they sat in a row in the carriage, known as a barouche, with Louis the youngest in the middle of his older siblings.
They were followed by the Earl and Countess of Wessex with children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn; then the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence in the third carriage.
The nation is embracing the special extended four-day bank holiday weekend of pomp, pageantry and star-studded festivities, which will see celebrities and the public gather in their millions in tribute to the monarch.
Louis sat between his older siblings George and Charlotte in their carriage today, with Kate and Camilla sat opposite. The children, dressed in a light blue, navy and white colour scheme, waved to the crowds - and at one point Charlotte appeared to push Louis's hand down, while the Princess squinted in the sun as the carriage left.
Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne rode on horses during the traditional carriage procession which left the palace ahead of Trooping the Colour, also known as the Birthday Parade, at the start of the celebrations.
As Kate, Camilla and the children left in their carriage, a riding groom had an issue with her horse which refused to move. The carriage had to swerve to avoid the animal which was eventually persuaded to join the procession.
The Cambridge children bowed their heads when the national anthem was played on their arrival into Horse Guards Parade. George was dressed in a navy suit, white shirt and blue tie for the occasion, while Louis was wearing a sailor-style white and navy top echoing an outfit worn by his father at the 1985 Trooping event.
Charlotte's hair was down, dressed up with two fine plaits fastened with a blue ribbon, and she wore a cornflower dress. She peered out of the central window at Horse Guards Parade as Louis pointed out towards the ceremony.
They arrived at Horse Guards Parade alongside their mother and grandmother in a carriage. The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing a white coat dress by Alexander McQueen and a hat by Philip Treacy. Riding horses were the Prince of Wales on George, the Duke of Cambridge on Derby and the Princess Royal on Sir John.
The Prince of Wales went ahead of the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal as they rode diagonally across the forecourt and under the arches of Horse Guards. Charles wore his scarlet Colonel of the Welsh Guards uniform and green thistle sash riding a horse named George. William rode on Derby in his Irish Guards uniform and Anne on a horse named Sir John in her Colonel of the Blues and Royals uniform as part of the colourful parade.
It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan join senior royals at an official engagement for the first time in more than two years. The Sussexes are also set to bring along three-year-old Archie and Lilibet, nearly one, for the public family reunion - and the children are likely to meet their cousins George, Charlotte and Louis at last.
Lilibet has never been introduced to her royal relatives, while Archie has not been in the UK since he was six months old. But there is no invitation for shamed Prince Andrew even in a private capacity after his fall from grace.
The Queen smiles as members of the Royal Family attend Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace in London this afternoon
The Queen appears on the balcony at Buckingham Palace in London this afternoon with the Duke of Kent
The Queen points at the display from the balcony at Buckingham Palace in London this afternoon
The Queen appears on the balcony at Buckingham Palace in London this afternoon as the Duke of Kent salutes
Prince Louis salutes as he watches Trooping the Colour with Princess Charlotte on a balcony at Horse Guards Parade today
Cheers go up from thousands of spectators in The Mall in London as they catch sight of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with proud parent Kate and the Duchess of Cornwall during Trooping the Colour this morning
Meghan Markle puts her finger to her lips next to Savannah Phillips and Mia Tindall at Horse Guards Parade in London today
Meghan Markle is seen with Savannah Phillips and Mia Tindall at Horse Guards Parade in London this afternoon
Prince Harry speaks to the Duke of Kent with Meghan Markle as they attend Trooping The Colour in London this afternoon
Members of the Household Division Foot Guards' bands march past Buckingham Palace during the Birthday Parade today
Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Princess Beatrice and Prince Louis watch Trooping the Colour from a balcony today
Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte wave to the crowds during Trooping the Colour in London this morning
Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte are part of the procession during Trooping the Colour in London today
Royal fans cheer near Buckingham Palace during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London this morning
Prince George (left), Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte bow their heads as they receive a salute in London today
The Duchess of Cornwall rides alongside the Duchess of Cambridge and all three of her children in the first carriage today
Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour during the Platinum Jubilee today
The Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis ride in a carriage today
Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne on horseback for Trooping The Colour in London this morning
Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte are part of the procession during Trooping the Colour in London today
Soldiers taking part in the parade along The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade today
Crowds on The Mall ahead the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in London this morning
Princess Anne, Princess Royal rides horseback during the Trooping the Colour parade in London this morning
People attend celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee along The Mall in London this morning
Prince George sits opposite the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge during Trooping the Colour in London today
Princess Charlotte rides in a carriage with her siblings during the Queen's Birthday Parade, the Trooping the Colour, today
Crowds on The Mall ahead the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in London this morning
People take videos during the Trooping the Colour parade in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this morning
The Duchess of Cambridge waves to the public as she arrives on a carriage to attend the Queen's Birthday Parade today
Prince Charles and Prince William ride on horseback during the Trooping the Colour parade in London today
The Duchess of Cornwall rides alongside the Duchess of Cambridge and all three of her children in the first carriage today
The Earl and Countess of Wessex with their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn in London this morning
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence is in the third carriage during the royal procession for Trooping the Colour this morning
The Queen's Birthday Parade at Horse Guards in London is the first official Platinum Jubilee event of the bank holiday weekend, with Her Majesty set to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast at 1pm.
Thousands of people draped in Union Jack flags, party hats and plastic tiaras lined The Mall in the warm sunshine today. Some of those at the front brought camping chairs, having arrived over the past few days to get the best spot, and spirits were high as members of the public chatted and joked with police maintaining the perimeter.
However, police then swooped on four intruders tried to smash through security on The Mall. Two of the protesters - who were from Animal Rebellion - were able to sit in the middle of the road as the marching band approached. Officers hauled them out of the way as the musicians walked by them, avoiding them completely.
The Irish Guards were among the first to arrive at a march at Horse Guards Parade this morning in front of the sitting crowds in the bright sunshine, led by their mascot, an Irish Wolfhound called Seamus. And as huge crowds descended on the capital to witness the historic weekend, police and park authorities said the areas were full.
The Metropolitan Police said: 'The viewing areas in central London for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations are now full. To avoid the disappointment of not being able to enter the viewing areas please avoid the area.'
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Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022: Trooping The Colour in London