I used to be within the crowd at Queen Elizabeth's final Trooping the Color. It was in contrast to something I've ever witnessed.

In June 2022, hundreds of individuals gathered at Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Color parade in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. I used to be one in every of them.

Trooping the Color, in any other case often known as the monarch’s birthday parade, additionally celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which marked her 70 years on the British throne.

The parade featured horses, troopers, and members of the royal household who departed from Buckingham Palace and made their means down The Mall, a avenue that begins on the palace and ends at Trafalgar Sq..

I arrived on the The Mall simply after 8 a.m., round two hours sooner than the parade was on account of begin. The place was packed, and a few attendees I spoke to had been there since 6 a.m.

I took my time deciding the place to face, admiring the various Union Jack flags and outfits that I noticed throughout my journey.

Some folks had been decked out in full costume, like this royal fan who wore a crown and a cape.

Others opted to put on the UK’s nationwide colours. This royal fan wore a crimson costume, an identical fascinator, a white belt, and a blue-and-white scarf.

I discovered a spot close to the top of the parade route, and waited there till the parade started shortly after 10 a.m. Whereas it was a protracted wait, the gang was cheerful, and a few folks spontaneously began singing the nationwide anthem.

Greater than 1,200 officers and solders from the Family Division and over 240 horses had been a part of the parade, in response to a palace press launch.

The parade went on for round an hour earlier than Kate Middleton, her kids, and Camilla appeared. It was troublesome to get a detailed look as a result of crowd, however I might inform it was them by the cheers that erupted round me.

—Mikhaila Friel (@MikhailaFriel) June 2, 2022

I obtained a better have a look at Prince William and Princess Anne, who handed us on horseback.

After the parade was over, the boundaries had been eliminated and the general public had been invited to look at a flyover with the Queen and the royal household, who appeared on from the palace balcony.

Whereas my view was barely blocked by the cops in entrance of me, I used to be a lot nearer to the palace balcony than I had even anticipated getting.

For the reason that Queen did not participate within the procession, everybody was wanting to see her balcony look. I overheard one man get emotional as he instructed his son that this could doubtless be the final time they noticed the 96-year-old at a milestone occasion.

The occasion ended with a spectacular flyover within the UK’s nationwide colours.

As King Charles celebrates his first Trooping the Color as monarch this yr, I can not assist however look again eventually yr’s occasion with nostalgia. I am so glad I obtained to witness one thing that can go down within the historical past books.