18 beautiful pics from Queen's 2012 Diamond Jubilee including family balcony appearance

kicked off the Platinum Party at the Palace tribute concert outside Buckingham Palace.But many viewers might not have known the real origins of the ursine celebrity who hails from “darkest Peru” — yet was actually inspired by Jewish refugee children.Author Michael Bond, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 91, decided to write a book about an orphaned cub sent to England after spotting a toy bear alone on a shelf at Selfridge’s department store on Christmas Eve in 1956.“It looked rather forlorn,” he told The Sunday Telegraph, so he purchased the bear as a stocking stuffer for his wife and began to write a story about it. Less than two weeks later, he had a completed novel which was sold for 75 pounds.Bond revealed that while writing the first book, “A Bear Called Paddington,” he was partly inspired by vivid memories he had of seeing Jewish refugee children pass through the train station in his hometown of London, on their way to London from Nazi-dominated Europe ahead of World War II.The Kindertransport was an organized rescue effort that saw nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland settled in British foster homes and farms.

Queen Elizabeth made a surprise appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Sunday, marking the official end of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The 96-year-old monarch was dressed in a green coat with a matching hat as she surprised the crowd.The royal -- who has not been spotted out in person since Thursday -- held on to a cane as she smiled and waved to the crowd. Her Majesty was joined on the balcony by her son, Prince Charles, daughter-in-law, Camila, Duchess of Cornwall, and her grandson, Prince William, his wife, Kate Middleton, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The Queen's Jubilee Pageant as kicked off this afternoon, Sunday 5 June, as part of the 96 year old monarch's final Platinum Jubilee celebrations.The Pageant route starts from Whitehall, goes through Admiralty Arch, up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, around Queen Victoria Memorial and down Birdcage Walk, and will see a 6,000 strong performing cast from across the UK and Commonwealth, celebrating the Jubilee split into three acts. For the first act, the bells of Westminster Abbey peeled as they did on Coronation Day.The Gold State Coach, a poignant symbol of Coronation Day 70 years ago, was seen travelling through the streets of London for the first time in twenty years.

Cheeky comedian Lee Mack wasted no time in using the Queen's Platinum Jubilee as an opportunity to stick the knife in Boris Johnson – metaphorically of course.The northern comic, 53, opened the concert, which is being held outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, by making light of the so-called 'partygate' affair in Downing Street. Speaking with the Prime Minister in attendance, who was in the royal box, Mack said: "Finally we can say the words ‘party’ and ‘gate’ and it’s a positive." The joke drew cheers and laughs from the crowd.The embarrassing quip comes just a day after the PM was booed outside St Paul's Cathedral as he attended the Thanksgiving service with members of the Royal Family.

We might still have a jam-packed schedule of Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the rest of the bank holiday weekend, but there have already been some standout moments.Trooping the Colour, in particular, was as proud an event as ever and showed the United Kingdom off in all its marching, trooping and parade glory. The Queen has reportedly met her great granddaughter Lilibet for the first time, and a surprise visit by Prince George and Princess Charlotte in Cardiff made for some lovely family photos. But let's rewind for the moment and take it back to the start of the festivities with five of the best moments from Trooping the Colour.

Prince Charles and his son Prince William will pay tribute to the Queen on Saturday night during special concert as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.The senior royals will enter the stage towards the end of the concert, which is being held outside Buckingham Palace. Members of the public will be able to attend if they were among the lucky few to grab a ticket but if you missed out then worry not as the BBC will be screening the whole event.

Members of the Royal Family are out in full force on Saturday as they continue to attend Platinum Jubilee events across the country ahead of tonight's Party at the Palace. From appearing together on Buckingham Palace' balcony for Trooping the Colour, to heading to St Paul's Cathedral for a Service of Thanksgiving, the family have now spread their wings to widen the Queen's celebrations across the UK. Anne, the Princess Royal, has arrived in Epsom for the Derby Day with her family after a quick trip to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.

Kim Kardashian may be something of a royal here in the States, but does that mean she gets — or even wants — access to the British royal family’s most lavish events??

celebrating 70 years as the British empire’s monarch with much pomp and circumstance right now — but that hasn’t drowned out the UK’s noisy fight for political change.If #AbolishTheMonarchy trending on Twitter the same day the four-day Platinum Jubilee launches is any indication, some Brits would like to see Elizabeth be the last monarch.The anti-monarchy group Republic has declared it would like to replace the royals with an elected head of state, especially as the unpopular — in some circles — Prince Charles would take over the throne once his mother dies.In January, Reuters reported that polls indicate the vast majority of people in Britain support the monarchy, and the queen herself is hugely popular. However, there is just not as much support for her eldest son and heir, Charles, and surveys suggest there is growing desire to “ditch the monarchy” among younger Britons.One wannabe activist tweeted on Thursday: “#AbolishTheMonarchy trending during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday is beautiful.”Other users called it “nice” and “very refreshing” to see the phrase trending during the queen’s celebratory festivities.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee with a sweet #TBT snapshot.The Beatles legend, 79, posted a classic photo Thursday of himself and the 96-year-old monarch posing together at the royal opening of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 1996.⁣The beloved rock icon captioned the image: “70 beautiful years of Queen Elizabeth the second. Congrats ma’am! And thanks.”In the smiling pic, the queen is seen looking on as she sports a bright baby-blue hat and dress while carrying a bouquet of white flowers.McCartney donned a dark suit and a blue-and-yellow patterned tie for the occasion.The pair had met decades prior to the ’90s event, having crossed paths in 1965.During the swinging ’60s, McCartney and his bandmates — Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison — were awarded with Member of the Order of the British Empire medals, better known as MBEs, by the sovereign at Buckingham Palace.McCartney was later knighted in 1997.The British queen celebrated 70 years since her coronation on June 2 with parties celebrating her Platinum Jubilee.

Queens Jubilee flyover Thursday after he was seen adorably covering his ears next to the Queen — among other cute antics — as planes soared over Buckingham Palace. The 4-year-old’s adorable display occurred after the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s youngest son joined his family on the famous balcony during the Jubilee flypast amid huge cheers from the crowd on The Mall.

A family affair. Queen Elizabeth II kicked off her Platinum Jubilee with a showstopping appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour on Thursday, June 2.

The Queen, alongside Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (aka Kate Middleton), and their three kids, Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, watch the RAF flyover during the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday (June 2) in London, England.

Fashionably royal! Queen Elizabeth II‘s Platinum Jubilee celebration has commenced, and the British monarch is marking 70 years on the throne in style.

Queen Elizabeth was greeted with lengthy applause from thousands of onlookers as she made her first Trooping the Colour balcony appearance alongside her cousin the Duke of Kent on Thursday. Her Majesty was all smiles as she stood in front of the large crowds and took the official salute.Due to her ongoing mobility issues, Queen Elizabeth was seen using a cane for her appearance and opted to skip the main parade this year.

The Queen has been spotted making her way to Buckingham Palace for today's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Elizabeth II, who resides at Windsor Castle, was seen in a car heading to London on Thursday morning, as the Trooping of the Colour parade took place. Her journey took place as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their kids took part in the procession.

The Queen is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee this weekend, marking 70 years of her reign. While the event is bound to be full of plenty of joyous moments for the longest reigning monarch in British history, it will also be the first milestone the Queen is celebrating without Prince Philip by her side.The Queen became a widow last year when Prince Philip died aged 99 after 73 years of marriage. She previously paid tribute to her beloved husband calling him her “strength and stay” over the years.

Refresh for latest…: Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are under way this morning in London with the annual Trooping the Colour parade from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guard’s Parade to celebrate the monarch’s Official Birthday. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians are taking part.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be attending the Queen’s Trooping of the Colour for her Platinum Jubilee.