Queen Elizabeth II watches demonstrations at Buckingham Palace

The first of the 4-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth’s 70th anniversary on the throne took place with a military parade at Buckingham Palace. The 96-year-old queen was accompanied by her cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, as she stood on the balcony to watch the soldiers return from the military parade. The Royal Air Force (RAF) flew a demonstration flight following the military parade. The Queen and other royals returned to the balcony to watch the flight. The event was attended by members of the royal families of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The Royal Air Navy took to the skies in 70 helicopters, forming the number 70 in the sky. The helicopters also painted the sky the colors of the British flag, red, blue, and white.