Rain-soaked royalists line the Mall to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday
The Mall was the setting for a picnic where 10,000 guests are celebrating Her Majesty's big day with a carnival-style parade.
RAIN-soaked royalists didn’t let the downpours dampen their spirits as they turned out for a street party honouring the monarch’s many charities got under way.
The Mall was the setting for a picnic where 10,000 guests are celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday with a carnival-style parade.
The soggy monarchists were eventually treated to a glimpse of Her Majesty as she and Prince Phillip made their way down the Union Flag lined street in an open top Range Rover.
She made her way to a stage in front of Buckingham palace where Prince William paid tribute to his grandmother before she herself took to the microphone.
She said: “To everyone here today and to those holding street parties elsewhere I would like to say thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement you continue to give to me.
“I hope these happy celebrations remind us of the many benefits that can flow when people come together for a common purpose, as families, friends or neighbours.
“I much appreciate the kindness of all your birthday messages and have been delighted and moved by the many cards and messages I have received. How I will feel if people are still signing happy birthday in December remains to be seen.”
As he Introduced his ‘granny’ to the stage, Prince William thanked the monarch on behalf of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren for ‘all she has done for the family’.
He said: “Catherine, Harry and I and the rest of our family are extremely proud to be here today.
“My family has had plenty of reason to celebrate since the Queen turned 90 in April.
“She is the one head of state that world leaders can turn to for a first hand perspective of the arch of history over the last six decades.
“At 90 she is the leader of our country who we all look up to in good times and in challenging moments to guide us ahead.”
Finally he added: “I say a personal thank you to the Queen on behalf of all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Thank you for everything you have done for our family we could not wish you a happier birthday.”
Her Majesty was then treated to a parade and a rendition of Happy Birthday and three cheers from the assembled crowd in a moment that clearly touched her heart.
Just before a dance party led by former Strictly judge Darcey Bussell performed in front of the assembled royals as Claire Balding thanked the Queen for her years of service.
Persistent showers have fallen for much of the day and threatened to turn the occasion into a sodden washout.
But the guests – many from the charities the Queen supports as patron – remained upbeat and pulled on ponchos provided in their picnic hampers filled with Pimms, pork pies and cupcakes.
The Queen was first spotted making a brief appearance at Buckingham Palace’s balcony window to see how proceedings were progressing.
The Duke of Edinburgh, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will also join the monarch later.
Peter Phillips, the Queen’s grandson, has masterminded the open air Patron’s Lunch to mark the monarch’s patronage of more than 600 charities and organisations.
It will bring to a close this weekend’s events marking the Queen’s anniversary that has already seen a St Paul’s Cathedral thanksgiving service and a traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Tickets for the event were priced at £150 with the majority going to organisations or charities that have the Queen as patron and 2,500 sold to the general public.
Mr Phillips is a director of Sports and Entertainment Ltd, a global events agency which came up with the idea for the not-for-profit event and will receive an undisclosed fee for staging it.
Pamela Mayne and her husband Stephen, from County Durham, were one of thousands who had shrugged off the weather.
Mrs Mayne, 60, dressed in a poncho, said: “We couldn’t get any wetter.”
She added: “It feels like I’m in a tent in this poncho. It’s so British. We’re going to enjoy ourselves regardless.”
Mr Mayne, also 60, who bought his tickets in the public ballot, said of whether it was worth £150: “In the rain, I don’t know. Yes if it had been sunny.”
Party-goers were banned from bringing umbrellas onto the site, with organisers handing out ponchos – 12,500 of which they had ready and waiting.
The lengthy white hooded rain covers were emblazoned with The Patron’s Lunch logo on the back.
Sat at a rain-soaked table was Anne Nutt, a member of the Essex Scout executive, who was at the event as Harlow District Scouts had won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services last year.
Looking around at the large puddles forming in The Mall, Ms Nutt said: “I think today is absolutely marvellous and it’s when the British people show their true colours – the true British spirit.
“People have come out from their warm, dry homes for four or five hours in the pouring rain.
“But it’s been nice to meet people from other charities and the large number of ex-servicemen that are here.”
Ms Nutt said she was making sure her lunch hamper was out of the rain: “I’m keeping it sealed to the last possible moment, we can all drink tea but soggy sandwiches is pushing it.”
The Mall was a sea of ponchos, included in the hampers which the guests had received, and there were long queues for tents serving free tea.
One guest, who did not want to give her name, exclaimed “I’ve paid £150 for this” as she looked around at the sodden conditions.
Audrey Asquith, from Reading, sat at a table in her poncho eating an ice cream.
She said: “I think this is wonderful, I would have walked through fire (to be here).”
Mrs Asquith and her husband had bought their tickets for the Patron’s Lunch and they had spent last night in London to ensure they would not be late for the start of the event.
She added: “We can’t be bothering about the weather otherwise we wouldn’t go anywhere in England.”
Clare Balding appeared to gee up the crowds and, speaking on the stage where William and Harry are expected to pay tribute to their grandmother, told the rain-soaked guests “you are rocking those ponchos”.
She introduced the start of the parade by telling the spectators: “We are in a celebratory mood reflected in the choreography and indeed the colour of the parade, all in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen.”