It is a very special moment for Ed Sheeran: Only thanks to the Queen’s Golden Jubilee did the pop star learn to play the guitar, according to her own statements. After the performances of numerous stars such as Rod Steward, Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli, he will now close the anniversary celebration with “God save the Queen”.
At the end of her day-long anniversary celebrations, Queen Elizabeth II surprisingly showed herself to her people again. From the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London, the 96-year-old Queen in a green coat and matching hat waved to hundreds of thousands of onlookers. At her side was her closest family – heir to the throne Prince Charles and wife Duchess Camilla and his older son Prince William with his wife Duchess Kate and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Meanwhile, the national anthem “God Save the Queen” was played.
It was the fourth time the Queen has performed at the festivities – but the first since Thursday night. The Queen stepped out onto the Buckingham Balcony twice on Thursday afternoon, once with close family members. In the evening, the monarch symbolically lit beacons across the country. However, the Queen canceled her participation in a thanksgiving service on Friday and neither attended the traditional Epsom Derby horse race on Saturday afternoon nor the big anniversary concert on Saturday evening in front of Buckingham Palace. The 96-year-old had to rest, it was said as a reason.
Meanwhile, a huge parade went through London, and at the end of the celebrations there were also street parties and nationwide picnics. Despite rather gloomy weather, tens of thousands of citizens attended lunches with neighbors on the final day of the anniversary celebrations and happily celebrated the historic reign of the 96-year-old monarch, who was rarely present due to ill health.
At the 70th anniversary of the throne, all the stars and starlets gave each other a hand. The band Queen kicked things off with the song “We are the Champions”. The American singer Alicia Keys then inspired with a powerful performance. Of course, the British representative of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Sam Ryder, could not be missing and made the stage shine in a glittering body suit. The Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli touched the audience with emotional ballads.
According to British media reports, eight-year-old Prince George proved to be a master of the lyrics when he sang along to the hit song “Sweet Caroline” during Sir Rod Steward’s performance. Paul McCartney, ex-Bond actors Daniel Craig, David Beckham and Elton John, and former US First Lady Michelle Obama recorded short video messages for the Queen.
Pop star Ed Sheeran is still to appear: he is scheduled to perform his famous ballad “Perfect” in honor of the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, who died last year. Meanwhile, giant screens will show photos from the Queen’s 73-year marriage to her late husband Prince Philip (1921-2021). He is also supposed to close the parade with the song “God save the Queen”.
Ed Sheeran explains on instagram that he only learned to play the guitar thanks to the Golden Jubilee 20 years ago: “20 years ago I decided to pick up a guitar because I was watching the Golden Jubilee on TV, Eric Clapton ‘Layla’ saw them play and said, ‘I want to do that too’.” At the Diamond Jubilee ten years later he appeared with his song “The A Team”. And now, again ten years later, “I’m playing at the Platinum Jubilee this Sunday”. “Life is strange how it always comes full circle in a wonderful way,” he continued.
It is uncertain whether the Queen will appear again in person. Many of those attending the celebrations are aware of the historical dimension of the moment: never before has a British monarch reigned as long as the Queen. Also, given the age of Elizabeth’s successors, the record of 70 years is unlikely to be surpassed in the near future.
