With loud celebrations, parties and parades, the British from Thursday celebrated 70 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, a happy brace of patriotic unity in the ocean of darkness.
This tribute to a 96-year-old sovereign in declining health, which is still very popular, should last until Sunday, thanks to a long four-day holiday weekend, when the succession quietly prepares behind the scene with his heir, Prince Charles.
Historical reign
A British sovereignty never reigned until Elizabeth II, the last planetary sovereign, ascended the throne at the age of 25 on February 6, 1952. Probably no one will reign much longer in the future: Prince Charles is 73 years old old and his son William, soon to be 40 years old.
Some fans did not hesitate to settle near the gates of Buckingham Palace in London on Monday, warning of rain and hail in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Queen on Thursday, when she will come to greet people from the famous palace balcony, a long -awaited moment.
We came primarily from Canadaexplains toAFP Angie Hart, 51, who really wanted to see the Salute to the Colors military parade.
The surrounding streets are decorated with English flags with large pictures of the Queen. Even in the English countryside, the facades are decorated with the national colors blue-white-red.
Enough to forget for a few days the repeated political scandals and inflation at its highest in 40 years.
The festivities will begin Thursday with the traditional annual military parade of Salute to the Colors, which Prince Charles is expected to review on horseback, as his mother did, before an aerial overflight.
more and more nothing
The royal family, limited to only members with official duties and their children – just to avoid tensions – had to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace around the sovereignty, a long -awaited moment.
Because, for many months, Elizabeth II’s health was a concern: since one night in the hospital in October, she had canceled almost all of her official appearances, which were replaced by Prince Charles.
Weak, he finds it difficult to walk and leans on a cane. However, she has made some surprises recently, smiling and relaxing, especially at the famous horticultural exhibition at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, in an electric cart.
Both admire Angie Hart the pomp, the ceremony celebration, only by dedication of the queen in her country. He said he had for sovereignty a great respect.
On Friday, a Thanksgiving Mass will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Very unpopular in the United Kingdom, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who have lived in California for two years, must attend, as must Prince Andrew, the Queen’s youngest son, who has been deprived of all official duties since accusations of sexual assault. .
A big concert in front of Buckingham Palace
Saturday, a big concert is supposed to bring together approximately 22,000 people in front of Buckingham Palace, including, among the headliners, Alicia Keys, Queen and Adam Lambert, as well as Diana Ross.
There Prince Charles and Prince William were to pay tribute to their mother and grandmother, who were watching the concert on television.
On Sunday, millions of Britons will take part in thousands of neighborhood lunches and street parties.
For Robert Lacey, author of many books on the monarchy, these are local festivals is as important as the television ceremonies at the Mallthe main street to Buckingham Palace.
They exemplify how Britain sees itself through monarchy, as a vehicle of our history, our traditions and our values.he said toAFP.
Pubs were allowed to close later and hoped to recover some of the losses due to COVID-19. Sales of sparkling wine, Dubonnet (a popular aperitif for the Queen) and Victoria Sponge Cake have exploded.
In the end, 10,000 people will park in central London to pay tribute to a sovereignty that, undisturbed, has gone through times and crises, an uplifting symbol of resilience, whose sense of duty and sometimes humor is valued by the British.
A poll for The day placed it this week at 91.7% favorable opinion, against 67.5% for Prince Charles.
Never underestimate the power of the monarchy and how relevant it is to British history. And how traumatic it is when everything falls apart, because it can happen in two, three or four yearsrecently declared by historian Anthony Seldon at a conference in London School of Economics.
Source: Radio-Canada
