Queen, 96, claps with joy in inspiring scenes as she indulges her passion for horses

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.

may have turned 96 in April, but Her Majesty will celebrate another major milestone through the weekend. The Platinum Jubilee marks Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne — a big tribute for the longest-serving monarch.

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II has been released in order to mark the start of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The specially commissioned portrait sees Her Majesty, 96, smiling in the Victoria Vestibule at Windsor Castle, with the Castle’s Round Tower, and the statue of King Charles II, which stands in the Quadrangle of the Castle, both visible in the background.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have renewed lease at Frogmore Cottage where they will stay this week for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, a Royal source tells ET.The source says that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have quietly renewed their lease at Frogmore Cottage, where they briefly lived after getting married.Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank had been using the premises while Harry and Meghan live in California, but have now left the property, according to the source. The Sussexes will stay at their home when they return for Platinum Jubilee celebrations this week.The move will renew speculation on whether Harry and Meghan intend to spend more time in the UK as the Queen gets older.

For months speculation has been rife as to whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be jetting over from their home in California for the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. And last week, the couple finally confirmed that they will be visiting the UK for the four-day event. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said they will also be joined by their two children, Archie, 3, and 11-month-old daughter Lilibet.

The Queen has the best chefs in all the land but she isn’t taking any risks ahead of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations at the weekend. The royal powerhouse is said to be eating very carefully to avoid getting sick after suffering a few setbacks with her health over recent months. Sharing the 96-year-olds diet plan, royal expert Jennie Bond told us: “She is eating frugally and will be eating fresh, simple foods that don’t upset her tummy, such as seafood and garlic.

Queen Elizabeth is the first-ever British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. Not only has she been Queen of Britain for seven decades, but she has also been sovereign in more than 30 countries, while overseeing enormous social, economic and political change – including the end of the British Empire. But it's bittersweet, as The Queen will be without her beloved husband Prince Philip at all of the events, after he passed away aged 99 last April.

It sounds like Prince Harry and Prince William are working things out just in time!

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will join the Queen for a Platinum Jubilee service at St Paul's Cathedral, according to reports.  The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will reportedly attend the event, set to take place on Friday 3 June, alongside other members of the Royal Family.  This is an important appearance for Harry and Meghan, as it will be the couple's first outing together with the entire Royal Family since they stepped back from their own royal duties in 2020. But while they will appear at the event, The Telegraph reports that their children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, almost one, are unlikely to attend.

Platinum Jubilee, a slew of celebrations to honor her seven-decade reign, as well as the Windsors who came before her, held from June 2 to June 5.Trooping the Colour refers to a military parade tied to the anniversary of the British monarchy, which enters its 260th year with the upcoming festivities. Traditionally, the queen would attend the parade in Whitehall, either on horseback or, in later years, by carriage, to be greeted by a royal salute as she carries out a symbolic inspection of the troops.Instead, she’ll receive her salute by proxy — via her son and heir Prince Charles, 73, daughter Princess Anne, 71, and grandson Prince William, 39.

The Queen will reportedly not take the royal salute at the Trooping the Colour next month for the first time in 70 years. According to new reports over the weekend, Her Majesty, 96, has delegated the special responsibility to other senior members of the Royal Family.

The Queen is planning to attend the Chelsea Flower Show next week it has been confirmed. Buckingham Palace said the 96 year-old monarch is hoping to make an appearance at the event - which is a highlight in the annual royal calendar.The Queen's granddaughter, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's daughter Princess Beatrice, 33, is already confirmed to be attending alongside Prince Edward, his wife Sophie the Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra.

The Queen made a surprise appearance at the opening of the new Elizabeth line on Tuesday morning. Her Majesty, 96, looked regal in a yellow coat, matching hat and white gloves as she arrived at the capital's Paddington station to mark the completion of the Crossrail project named in her honour.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be attending the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and bringing children Archie and Lilibet with them to the UK The Duke, 37, and Duchess of Sussex, 40 are said to be flying over to celebrate the festivities with their children and the Royal family over the bank holiday weekend.The couple won't be on the balcony for the flypast, as well as Prince Andrew, which was announced shortly before the couple said they'd still be attending. And as the jubilee nears, where will Meghan and Harry be staying as they return to the UK? Let's take a look...

One was certainly amused, as The Queen laughed at comedian Omid Djalili's joke as she attended the Platinum Jubilee Celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Her Majesty, 96, appeared in a happy mood as she watched 1,300 acts and 500 horses perform in her honour during the commemorative event held this past weekend.

The Queen was spotted laughing and cheering as she enjoyed the fantastical musical performances in her Platinum Jubilee Celebration at Windsor Castle. Her Majesty, 96, first arrived by her trusty Land Rover car as she was brought to the centre of the grounds, and she was all smiles as she got ready for an evening outdoors dedicated to her legacy and history. Having amassed 70 years on the throne this year, the Queen was over the moon to be at the centre of a celebration showcasing the best the Royal family, Britain, and the Commonwealth has to offer.