LONDON (AFP) – Shortly before the finale, 73-year-old Prince Charles became a child again. “Your Majesty, my mother,” the heir to the throne turns to his mother the queen. On behalf of the entire country, and indeed the world, he thanks her eldest son Queen Elizabeth II for her rule.
It’s the emotional climax of a massive two-and-a-half hour race in front of Buckingham Palace, which features nearly everything possible in terms of stars, glare of color and technology. The United Kingdom, then impression, is not only at the feet of its queen. He succumbs to her in an unprecedented wave of photos and messages.
It is hardly possible to single out a climax. The ‘Platinum Party at the Palace’, organized by the BBC, has turned into an emergency for the senses. At first, even the Queen will only stop at the screen. In a two-minute segment, the 96-year-old meets the character of the popular children’s book Paddington. “Tea?” asks the king. And the clumsy bear drinks straight from the pot without hesitation. To make up for his demise, Paddington offers a jam sandwich, which he always carries in his hat as an emergency ration. But the queen refused, opened her handbag – and took out a piece of bread herself. “Keep me here,” she says with a smile.
About 40 family members attended
He tops the scene until the 2012 Summer Olympics opening clip, when the Queen appeared with a parachute with James Bond actor Daniel Craig. And it goes on incredibly fast. Music stars perform in several stages every five minutes, and there is no stopping. At first it was the rock band Queen with singer Adam Lambert, while guitarist Brian May poses in appropriate style in front of the Queen Victoria Memorial. Time to catch your breath? Nothing, singers and stages change quickly. Sometimes it seems as if 22,000 spectators are still dazed by one show when the next one starts.
About 40 members of the royal family – but not the Queen’s grandson Prince Harry and his wife, Duchess Meghan – follow the scene from the Royal Box. In the front row, Harry’s brother Prince William, his wife, Duchess Kate, and their two oldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, wave British flags, singing along to Rod Stewart’s hit “Sweet Caroline”. They are also on stage: first, William, who made a passionate plea for environmental protection. And then, almost at the end, Charles. “On behalf of all of us, I would like to pay tribute to your dedicated service for life,” said the heir to the throne, not forgetting “my father,” the Queen’s husband Prince Philip, who passed away in 2021.
Celebrities send congratulations
And among that: video messages from some British actresses Julie Andrews, Judi Dench, Beetle Paul McCartney, soccer player David Beckham and Olympic champion Mo Farah. “70 Years as Regent,” is what pop star Elton John is excited about.
Elizabeth has been queen since February 6, 1952, longer than any monarch before. The Queen’s voice could be heard over and over again from the speakers, as she promised to serve her people until the end of her life. Jubilarian is only present on the screen. The 96-year-old, who often canceled appointments due to mobility issues, is still recovering from the start of the four-day festivities. But every time his name is mentioned, the fans rejoice. There is hardly a Briton who can remember another head of state. “We are all Elizabethans,” said actor Stephen Fry.
As the evening progresses, Buckingham Palace transforms into a movie screen. Images of the queen are shown on the facade, colors and patterns. “Union Jack” shines again and again. But in the end, when American spirit icon Diana Ross sings, the palace is just an accessory. In the sky above the castle, drones draw moving pictures in the air, symbols of the queen: a corgi – her favorite dog breed, a handbag, a teapot, a galloping horse. Finally the Queen as a postage stamp.
And at this point at the latest, the impression is created: it’s no longer about the anniversary, but about the legacy. Queen as a brand that everyone looks up to, is no longer this world but above all. It looks like a farewell party.