People gather at The Mall Avenue in London to salute Queen Elizabeth II as Platinum Jubilee celebrations begin, June 2, 2022. Photo: AFP/VNA

Being absent at several events due to travel difficulties, the Queen appeared on the final day of the great ceremony, waving to the public from the Buckingham Palace balcony flanked by Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children. During the pageant, the Gold State Coach that carried the Queen to Westminster Abbey on the day of her coronation in 1953 appeared in public for the first time in 20 years.

Queen Elizabeth II inherited the throne on February 6, 1952, after the death of her father King George, becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history. The Queen has seen 14 prime ministers during her 70-year reign.

Opinion polls show a majority of Britons believe the monarchy should be maintained and a recent Ipsos survey found that nine out of ten respondents support the Queen.