LONDON (Reuters) -
Hundreds of thousands of people cheered, sang patriotic songs and waved
Union Jack flags outside Buckingham Palace in a spectacular finale to
four days of celebrations honoring Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the
British throne.
The 86-year-old beamed at
the throng and waved from the balcony of the palace, accompanied by the
senior members of her family with one notable absentee - Prince Philip,
her husband of 64 years who was taken ill with a bladder infection on
Monday.
It was one of the few
grand state occasions in her life when he has not been present, taking
some of the gloss off what has widely been seen as a triumphant diamond
jubilee that has reinforced the popularity of the queen and the
monarchy.
The grand Mall avenue
leading to the queen's London residence was turned into a sea of red,
white and blue as well-wishers flooded the road to hail the queen before
a flypast led by the Spitfires which won the Battle of Britain and
concluded with an aerobatic display by the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows.
Celebrations outside
Buckingham Palace closed when soldiers fired a rifle salute, then thrust
their bearskin hats in the air to lead the crowds beyond the palace
gates in a rousing three cheers to the queen, the only British monarch
other than Queen Victoria to have reigned for 60 years.
As the ecstatic crowd
roared its approval, Elizabeth flanked by son and heir Charles, his wife
Camilla, Prince William and his new wife Kate as well as brother Harry,
gave one final wave before heading inside.
"I don't think we'll see
anything like this again in my generation. It was wonderful," said
Joseph Afrane, 49, a photographer who was wearing a red, white and blue
Union Jack flag waistcoat and hat.
Millions have attended
street parties, watched a spectacular 1,000-vessel pageant on the River
Thames in London on Sunday and a concert in front of Buckingham Palace
on Monday, all held in honor of Elizabeth II.
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