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The Platinum Jubilee in numbers: From 1,400 soldiers to 22,000 palace party guests

Hannah Millington
·Health & Wellness Reporter
Updated ·7-min read
Platinum Jubilee. (Reuters and Getty Images)
What was your favourite day of the Platinum Jubilee? (Reuters and Getty Images)

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee was marked with a special four-day UK bank holiday weekend of celebration from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June, attended by members of the royal family, politicians and the public.

This included an array of events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on the Queen's 70 years of service, with Trooping the Colour, the Service of Thanksgiving and the Platinum Party at the Palace stand outs, as well as much more.

From the lines of soldiers that paraded The Mall, to the memorable flypast display of seemingly never-ending aircraft, to the people who filled the streets to celebrate the longest reigning monarch in British history (and longest-reigning female monarch in history), we look at the jubilee celebrations in numbers.

Thursday 2 June

1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians at Trooping the Colour

Members of the Household Division Foot Guards' bands march back along The Mall during the Trooping the Colour parade as a part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London, Britain June 2, 2022. Richard Pohle/Pool via REUTERS
Members of the Household Division Foot Guards' bands march back along The Mall during the Trooping the Colour parade as a part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. (Pool via REUTERS

Some 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians came together on Horse Guards Parade in St James' Park, as part of Trooping the Colour, the first event of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The colour (the battalion flag) was trooped (or carried) by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, and the officers and soldiers from the Household Division put on a display of military pageantry, joined by the musicians and horses. This annual event has marked the official birthday of the Queen for more than 260 years.

After the parade ended and the Royal Procession returned to Buckingham Palace, Royal Family members including the Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children made their much-anticipated balcony appearance in line with tradition.

Highlights included Prince Louis, four, stealing the show.

Read more: Trooping the Colour: Duchess of Cambridge resplendent in recycled McQueen

71 planes soar over palace in flypast

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team Red Arrows performs a flypast over the Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour in London, Britain, June 8, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team Red Arrows performs a flypast over Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour in London. (REUTERS)

More than 70 aircraft, including Spitfires, a Lancaster Bomber, the Red Arrows and around 15 Typhoon fighter jets also paid a special tribute to the Queen and her reign of seven decades, by forming the number 70.

3,500 beacons lit across the UK and Commonwealth

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JUNE 02: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II prepares to receive the Commonwealth Nations Globe (R) to start the lighting of the Principal Beacon outside of Buckingham Palace in London, from the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 2, 2022 in Windsor, England. More than 2,800 beacons are lit at Buckingham Palace and across the UK, including atop the four highest peaks, as well as on the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and British Overseas Territories. Flaming tributes will be seen in 54 Commonwealth capitals across five continents, from Tonga and Samoa in the South Pacific to Belize in the Caribbean. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Adrian Dennis - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The Queen prepares to receive the Commonwealth Nations Globe (R) to start the lighting of the Principal Beacon outside of Buckingham Palace in London, from the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle. (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
CHALFONT ST PETER, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: A Platinum Jubilee beacon is lit on Gold Hill Common on June 02, 2022 in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
A Platinum Jubilee beacon is lit on Gold Hill Common on June 02, 2022 in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)

More than 3,500 beacons were lit in unison across the UK and Commonwealth on Thursday evening.

After experiencing "some discomfort" at Trooping the Colour, Buckingham Palace announced the Queen would miss Friday's Service of Thanksgiving "with great reluctance", though was first still able to perform the lighting of the beacon chain at Windsor Castle.

This gave signal to Prince William, representing his grandmother at Buckingham Palace, to illuminate the lights on the Principal Beacon, made of a 21-metre 'Tree of Trees'.

Friday 3 June

2,000 Service of Thanksgiving guests

(front row, left of aisle) Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, (front row, right of aisle) the Earl of Wessex, the Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, James, Viscount Severn, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Duchess of Gloucester, (second row, left of aisle) the Earl of Snowdon, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, (second row, right of aisle) Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi , Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank, the Duke of Sussex, the Duchess of Sussex, and Lady Sarah Chatto, with the wider members of the Royal Family seated behind during the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, London, on day two of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. Picture date: Friday June 3, 2022. (Photo by Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images)
St Paul's was filled to the brim with guests, including members of the Royal Family and politicians. (/PA Images via Getty Images)
Guests attend the National Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen's reign at Saint Paul's Cathedral in London on June 3, 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. - Queen Elizabeth II kicked off the first of four days of celebrations marking her record-breaking 70 years on the throne, to cheering crowds of tens of thousands of people. But the 96-year-old sovereign's appearance at the Platinum Jubilee -- a milestone never previously reached by a British monarch -- took its toll, forcing her to pull out of a planned church service. (Photo by PHIL NOBLE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Guests attend the National Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen's reign at Saint Paul's Cathedral in London. (AFP via Getty Images)

More than 2,000 people filled the church at the Service of Thanksgiving on Friday, including the Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Boris Johnson and every living former prime minister.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived shortly after William and Kate, the first time the four have been seen together in public since March 2020, receiving cheers from the crowd.

The service marked the Queen's 70 years as monarch, and included Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country being rung, as well as a new Anthem by Judith Weir, Master of The Queen's Music, that sets music to words from the third Chapter of the Book of Proverbs.

Read more: Platinum Jubilee: Duchess of Cambridge chic in lemon yellow for Service of Thanksgiving

Saturday 4 June

125,000 people flocked to Derby at Epsom Downs

Jockey Barry McHugh rides Tees Spirit (L) to victory in the 'Dash' Handicap on the second day of the Epsom Derby Festival horse racing meeting at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Epsom, south of England, on June 4, 2022. - Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal has taken over duties at Epsom from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. The 96-year-old monarch had been expected to attend the race on Saturday, as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations marking 70 years on the throne. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Jockey Barry McHugh rides Tees Spirit (L) to victory in the 'Dash' Handicap on the second day of the Epsom Derby Festival horse racing meeting at Epsom Downs Racecourse. (AFP via Getty Images)

As part of the central weekend celebrations, Epsom Downs Racecourse staged the 143rd running of The Derby, filled with crowds of 125,000 people.

Derby is the most prestigious of the five Classic races, including the Oaks, the One Thousand Guineas, the Saint Leger and the Two Thousand Guineas.

22,000 people attended Platinum Party at the Palace

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 04: (L-R) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge # watch Paddington Bear and HM The Queen on screen during the Platinum Party at the Palace in front of Buckingham Palace on June 04, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images) on June 04, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Who can you spot enjoying the concert at the palace? (Getty Images)
People cheer during the Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. - Some 22,000 people and millions more at home are expected at a star-studded musical celebration for Queen Elizabeth II's historic Platinum Jubilee. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
People cheer during the Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace. (AFP via Getty Images)

Crowds of around 22,000 people gathered for the Platinum Party at the Palace concert, including 10,000 allocated in a public ballot and 5,000 tickets for key workers.

Queen and Duran Duran were among some of the acts to play, as well as Diana Ross who closed the show, and has not performed live in the UK for 15 years.

Read more: Mike Tindall was an unexpected star of the Platinum Jubilee weekend

Sunday 5 June

More than 85,000 Big Jubilee Lunches across the country

Local residents take part in a Platinum Jubilee Big Lunch On The Long Walk in Windsor Great Park to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee on 5th June 2022 in Windsor, United Kingdom. The Big Lunch initiative to encourage communities to celebrate their connections began in 2009 and this was the first time that the event had taken place on the Long Walk. (photo by Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Local residents take part in the Platinum Jubilee Big Lunch On The Long Walk in Windsor Great Park. (In Pictures via Getty Images)

More than 85,000 'Big Jubilee Lunches', of which Camilla is patron, were held around the country. This initiative began in 2009 to bring communities together.

16,000 street parties were organised

People sing together at the conclusion of a street party in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in central England on June 5, 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. - Millions of people are expected to attend
People sing together at the conclusion of a street party in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in central England. (AFP via Getty Images)

10,000 people took part in the platinum pageant

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 05: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince George of Cambridge stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Platinum Pageant on June 5, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
The Queen, pictured with Prince Charles and Prince George, surprises onlookers. (Indigo/Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 05, 2022 - Large crowds line the streets of London for The Platinum Jubilee Pageant. (Photo credit should read Matthew Chattle/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Large crowds line the streets of London for The Platinum Jubilee Pageant. (Matthew Chattle/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Some 10,000 people were involved in the Pageant on Sunday, including the military, over 6,000 volunteers, performers, key workers and 2,500 members of the general public.

The Queen made a surprise appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony, much to the delight of the crowds gathered on The Mall.

Read more: Harry and William's break 'could be final', suggests body language expert

Gold State Coach makes first appearance in 20 years

A hologram of Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation in the Gold State Coach during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace, London, on day four of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Picture date: Sunday June 5, 2022. (Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
Look familiar? The Queen's famous gold coronation coach makes a return. (PA Images via Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II in the Gold State Coach leaving Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
The Queen in the Gold State Coach leaving Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)

The Queen's 260-year-old gold carriage, which took her to and from her coronation in 1953, was seen on the streets of London for the first time in 20 years.

In the form of a hologram, footage from her coronation, when she was just 27, appeared on the sides of the carriage, with her waving to crowds. Truly a moment to remember.