Millions cheer diamond queen

LONDON: The rain was typically British but so was the emotion as 1.5 million people packed the streets outside Buckingham Palace to wave to Queen Elizabeth as she rounded off her diamond jubilee yesterday.
Despite a downpour, people filled The Mall from the palace gates to Admiralty Arch on the horizon to cheer the 86-year-old sovereign for the appearance on the palace balcony, the final event of a four-day long public holiday weekend marking her 60 years on the throne.
Mexican waves went across the stands and people politely put their umbrellas down so the thousands behind them could get a glimpse of the monarch, dressed in mint green, and senior royals as they emerged from inside.
People passed the time by singing spontaneous rounds of “God Save the Queen” before a giant cheer went up as she appeared on the balcony.
The Mall, the ceremonial route from Trafalgar Square to the palace, was transformed into a sea of waving Union Jack flags as the balcony doors opened.
Tim Fell, 32, a nursery teacher from Edinburgh, waved a banner reading “Elizabeth the Great — she’s a diamond!.”
“This is what it’s all about, letting her know what we think of her,” he told AFP. “We forget she’s always there, we forget what she does.
“Duty, country, sacrifice, commitment, compassion; for the queen, they’re not just words in a dictionary — they’re a way of life, they’re who she is and that’s such a remarkable set of values to have.
“And duty means us. It’s been an opportunity for everyone to come out and say ‘hey, that’s pretty cool! Thank you, keep going, we’re with you!’
“Millions have come out in the pouring rain, and it’s the least we can do for 60 years of service. Everyone here was together. It was a united response and I think you could see it reflected in her face.”
Buckingham Palace said the police had told them that there were 1.5 million people in and around The Mall.
Marlene Gannon, 73, from Yorkshire in northern England, who wore a Union Jack headscarf, was among them.
“I’m very short so I didn’t see much of the queen but I enjoyed the atmosphere and occasion.
“The whole weekend’s been fantastic. I think she’s realized how much people think of her.
“This has been on my bucket list of things to do before I die. I was determined to be here to be part of everything. It was fantastic.
“I’ve just been amazed at the different nationalities and ages and everybody really happy about being part of the celebration.”