Royals The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Are Underway in London! See Every Photo from the Royal Festivities Members of the royal family are all dressed up while on hand for day one of the celebrations, which begins with Trooping the Colour By Kate Hogan Published on June 2, 2022 07:22 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 01 of 49 Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images Let the celebration begin! Festivities surrounding Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee kicked off in London on Thursday, marking her historic 70-year reign. First up: Trooping the Colour, the annual public celebration of her birthday (which was tempered the past two years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic), which featured a Thursday morning parade. 02 of 49 Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images More than 1,500 military personnel were expected to march in the parade. 03 of 49 Kate Middleton at Trooping the Colour - 2022. ANDREW MATTHEWS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images The royal family arrived by both horseback and carriage; here, Kate Middleton smiles at the crowd from her seat. 04 of 49 Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour on June 2. Karwai Tang/WireImage And across from her, making their carriage debut, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte. 05 of 49 Princess Charlotte. Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images Charlotte gave the cameras a look as she rolled by. 06 of 49 Prince George (far left), Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour in their carriage debut on June 2. Ian Vogler - WPA Pool/Getty Images The trio dressed in complementary shades of blue, with Louis in an outfit worn by his dad, Prince William, to the same event 37 years ago. 07 of 49 Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock And the big sibs shared a smile as they kept their younger bro nestled between them. 08 of 49 Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock The siblings knowingly bowed their heads to the royal colour as they passed. 09 of 49 Prince William. Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock Meanwhile, Dad Prince William arrived by horseback in his military uniform and a bearskin hat. 10 of 49 Prince Charles and Prince William at Trooping the Colour on June 2. Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty Images Just ahead of him: a similarly dressed Prince Charles. 11 of 49 PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo Princess Anne, the queen's only daughter, was among those arriving by horseback. 12 of 49 Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, greeted admirers from their carriage as the parade carried on. Queen Elizabeth previously announced only working members of the royal family would be present at Trooping the Colour, meaning her son Prince Andrew, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, would not be part of the parade or following balcony moment. 13 of 49 Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Across from Mom and Dad, Edward and Sophie's children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. According to royal watchers, Lady Louise wore the same Philip Treacy hat her mom wore for Trooping in 2009. 14 of 49 PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Before the parade kicked off, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, received an escort to Buckingham Palace. 15 of 49 PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Camera's caught a glimpse of Camilla's pale blue outfit, a rewear, just like Kate's. 16 of 49 Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Kate Middleton. BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images Camilla joined Kate and the kids in their carriage. 17 of 49 Prince George, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Kate Middleton. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock Kate opted for a white dress she's worn before by Alexander McQueen, her wedding dress designer, and a white and blue Philip Treacy hat. 18 of 49 Prince William. Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince William and Princess Anne saluted as they rode. 19 of 49 PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images An aerial view showed off Prince Edward's carriage as the family rolled along. 20 of 49 PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images People camped out for days along the route prior to the festivities, hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal family. 21 of 49 Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images More than 350 horses were used in the parade, too. 22 of 49 Trooping the Colour 2022. Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images The Queen's guard marched in formation during the Thursday parade. 23 of 49 HANNAH MCKAY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images The queen got lucky with a gorgeous weather day! 24 of 49 Trooping the Colour. Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images A dramatic shot showed the royal procession leaving Buckingham Palace. 25 of 49 Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images Crowds were deep near Trafalgar Square. 26 of 49 PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Viewing stands were set up along the mall. 27 of 49 A lot of great gear has been on sale in the weeks leading up to the celebrations — and many revelers brought their own. 28 of 49 Queen Elizabeth. Jonathan Brady/AP/Shutterstock She's here! Dressed in a light blue ensemble with white trim, the queen, 96, took her place on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour on Thursday as the parade rolled on. 29 of 49 Queen Elizabeth II and her cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in June, 2022. Chris Jackson/Getty Images The queen was joined by her cousin, the Duke of Kent. 30 of 49 Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Kent. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock She also took the official salute. 31 of 49 Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Matt Dunham/AP/Shutterstock Shortly after, she was joined by family, including Kate, George, Charlotte and Louis. 32 of 49 Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images For the flyover portion of the event, the Royal Air Force temporarily formed the number 70 with their planes. 33 of 49 Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images The RAF also flew planes with contrails of red, white and blue. 34 of 49 From left: Princess Anne, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte and Prince George and Prince William on the balcony for Trooping the Colour on June 2. DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images From the balcony, Princess Anne, Camilla, Prince Charles, the queen, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William watched the flyover and greeted crowds. 35 of 49 Queen Elizabeth, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte and Prince George. DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images While Charlotte and George were into the flyover, little Louis ... not so much. 36 of 49 Queen Elizabeth, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William. Chris Jackson/Getty Images Mom gave him comforting words while Dad minded Charlotte and George. 37 of 49 Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Louis and Kate Middleton. Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock And he shared a sweet moment with his great-grandmother. 38 of 49 Chris Jackson/Getty Images And he ultimately gave a wave, just like his big sis! 39 of 49 Trooping the Colour 2022. DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images The senior working members of the royal family enjoyed the flyover. 40 of 49 Chris Jackson/Getty Images And stood at attention for a photo, too. 41 of 49 Prince Louis and Kate MIddleton. Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images Prince Louis also had some moments typical of a 4-year-old. 42 of 49 Prince Charles, C. Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock The four generations took in the festivities. 43 of 49 Meghan Markle with the royal children at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Color on June 2. Kelvin Bruce Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — who arrived in the U.K. on Wednesday with their children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, who turns 1 on Saturday — joined the royal family for Trooping the Colour on Thursday at the palace. Meghan Markle was spotted playfully entertaining various young royals, including Zara Tindall's kids Mia, 8, and Lena, 3, and Peter Phillips' daughter Savannah, 11. 44 of 49 Meghan Markle with the royal children at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Color on June 2. Kelvin Bruce Harry and Meghan watched the birthday parade for Queen Elizabeth from the Major General's Office, which overlooks the Horse Guards Parade. Meghan wore an asymmetrical, wide-brimmed Stephen Jones hat with an oversized navy bow and coordinating navy dress. 45 of 49 Prince Harry. Kelvin Bruce Prince Harry also got in on the fun with his cousins' kiddos. 46 of 49 Queen Elizabeth at the beacon lighting ceremony. ADRIAN DENNIS/getty On Thursday night — after announcing she'd no longer be attending Friday's National Service of Thanksgiving after feeling "discomfort" during the morning Trooping the Colour — the queen led the lighting of the Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon from Windsor Castle, while her grandson Prince William represented her at Buckingham Palace, where the beacon was officially lit. 47 of 49 Chris Jackson /getty With a symbolic touch of the Commonwealth Globe of Nations, which was placed on a podium, the Queen set off a chain of lights leading to the Principal Beacon outside Buckingham Palace. 48 of 49 Prince William. Chris Jackson /getty The beacon takes the form of a sculpture dubbed the "Tree of Trees," which stands 70 ft. tall in honor of the Queen and her astonishing 70 years on the throne. Around 3,000 beacons, including fires and gaslit torches, will be lit around the U.K. at the same time. 49 of 49 Prince William. Chris Jackson /getty The Duke of Cambridge was met by the Chair of The Queen's Green Canopy, Sir Nicholas Bacon, and the designer of the "Tree of Trees," Thomas Heatherwick (right), to hear about how the sculpture was created.