I'm not from Australia or Canada, Vee...but I am a huge fan of the Queen and have been for decades. Her Majesty is an amazing woman and age hasn't dulled her one bit. I rue the day that she leaves us. Obviously, I haven't lived under Royalty Rule but on this side of the pond...I think we could benefit from her wisdom...and her Rule.

Enjoy the celebration. I shall rely on authentic press releases to join you.

Vee....it is a moment in history ! I will be watching England celebrate this truly admirable woman.

Anglophile that I am, I will be watching and reading the programs and news that we get. I greatly admire her; some of her family, not so much.

I checked to see what Western Australia is doing to mark the occasion. This Monday is WA Day, a public holiday, so the local events will take the centre stage!

However there will be coverage of the events in Britain on TV and a landmark here will be floodlit in purple. A special coin will be struck at the Perth Mint.

I haven't seen anything about street parties. It is chilly Winter so I doubt even a back garden bbq will be held! More likely that pizzas will be sent for and the events watched on a massive TV or nine inch devices!

Vee.....I see that Harry and The Meghan will be with the other spectators and are not invited to join the royal family. I certainly admire the Queen's decision regarding them. They have alienated themselves so completely , I'm surprised they had the nerve to show up at all.

We will not see her like again. In an admirable life, the queen outdid herself in her pitch-perfect visit to Ireland in 2011. I happened to be there at the time and the coverage was wall to wall. In the anguished history of Ireland and England--most of the anguish being suffered by Ireland--it was a truly healing moment for many.

I come from a newspaper family/background. My father always told me..."Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see." It's been an excellent directive throughout my life. Consequently...I offer that none of us will ever know the familial history of the Queens decision involving Prince Harry and his family. Thus...I personally think it has no place in this current celebration of her 70 year reign. Appreciate and admire her for her strength and wisdom....and her everlasting courage. Nothing else should affect this celebration. She is truly a great lady.

Another Anglophile here in the US. I watched what I could of the display this morning on television. I enjoyed the balcony scene and parade down the Mall. I think the discussion of Harry and Megan has no place in this as it was her Majesty's decision. After all, Harry has had a close relationship with his grandmother for years and of course the couple wanted to introduce the newest grandchild to the Queen, as this will be their first meeting! I am happy for all of them.

Lilibet is a Great-granddaughter, actually!

I am waiting for my newest Great-grandson, he was due on Tuesday!

I am up late as I watched a lot of the televised event which lasted to 1am Friday, my time.

The Queen is marvellous! I am only 85 and can appreciate her discipline in not letting her age and infirmities stop her, when possible.

Loved seeing that big smile on the Queen's face during the military flyover!

I've been watching some of the coverage online. What a wonderful celebration of a truly amazing woman. As ginny said, we will not see her like again.

Prince Andrew has "convenient covid " ??? I smell a rat.

. . . as has the Archbishop of Canterbury . . .

Several people close to me but not each other have just come down with it despite being double vaccinated and double-boosted. They are fairly young and very healthy otherwise. Whatever variant it is--Omicron?--it must be highly contagious.

Either way, it is extremely convenient ! At least it spared him getting booed as were H & M.

Her Majesty had already decided (presumably in the interests of not giving the public cause for complaint) that only working royals would be making balcony appearances. That kept Andrew, Harry and Meghan out of the spotlight. Andrew didn’t need to fake Covid if that’s what he has done, but perhaps if he has, it was to say, ”Well I couldn’t come anyway.”

This little skit opened the Jubilee concert last night.

That is a delightful video , and it brought a tear to my eye.

Thank you indeed.

In a world that is ever changing and unstable, Elizabeth represents a sort of security.

That has been going around the world ever since. So amusing and a delight! I even got a text from a family member visiting Japan right now. Very hard to find the full video tho.

I could only find it on the Daily Mail website (sorry).

Queen and Paddington Bear take tea

Funnily enough, the actor who plays the footman plays one of the ghosts in the UK series ”Ghost”- he’s a crass politician who died while half dressed so is doomed to spend the afterlife trouserless 😂

Am I the only one who thought that the "antics" of little "Prince Charming Louis" were more bratty and undisciplined than cute ?

Thumbing your nose and sticking out your tongue at your mother ?

I am also a grandmother and consider that very poor behavior.

You are right and I was surprised at the thumbing of the nose. I don't think my children had ever seen that at 4, much less done it. But I still say Louis is 4--just turned 4--April 23 birthday--and does not have sufficient judgment to know how unacceptable that is. In private, I'm sure William and Kate would deal with it differently. These were not normal circumstances and Kate did a great job.

True.........never complain, never explain !!

Yoyo, I agree it was bad behaviour but someone has taught him that. Years ago his Nanny would have removed him as he was plainly overexcited.

It may not be approved these days but I gave my late-teenage son a clip on the head for a rude gesture he made to an adult once. He was shocked but I considered it a reflection on my upbringing and dealt with the lapse promptly!

Well done to you Annpan. That 'clip' will have made far more of an impression on him that any amount of 'discussion' with him about his rudeness.

Perhaps Nanny was waiting in the wings with the business-end of the hairbrush to aim at the small Royal backside?

The parties are over. The sound-stage in the local park has been dismantled, we have taken down the bunting and our neighbour, much to his consternation has re-flown his Union Jack the 'right' way up. It was flying the signal for distress at sea for a few days! The Tall Ships flotilla have sailed from Gloucester Docks down the River Severn to the Bristol Channel and away to the Western Approaches and all points of the compass.

And on a happy note a US cousin of DH who visited from DC some days ago has sent us a Thank You gift of a Jubilee Hamper from the very up-market/posh London store Fortnum and Mason (the Queen's Grocer). We have been drinking real tea (for which I had to find the strainer) and eating expensive choccy bics from a tin which, when opened, played the National Anthem. There was even a commemorative plate and a Tea Towel with which my servants could wipe the cups and saucers . . .

Vee, thanks for the seal of approval!

He was shocked as I don't recall smacking my children who were generally well behaved. To get a sudden physical admonishment from Mum when you are around seventeen would be a surprise. Apart from a outcry of anguish, the well-built six-footer didn't retaliate!

It wasn't a time for discussion as I wanted the adult who was gestured at made instantly aware of what I thought!

annpan.......I agree something should have been done to remove him immediately rather than have the world see him act so badly to his mother and have her do nothing except reprimand. And the idea of a "conversation seat" is ridiculous. Children need immediate consequences. Perhaps this is what happens when a child is put in the care of a nanny and does not have daily interactions with a parent on that level. They wonder " Who's in charge ? " and set out to find out ! Kate did not look in charge in that moment.

Vee, an F&M hamper! Wow!!

We get some of their products at an upmarket department store here. I have a gift voucher from this store every birthday but sadly was unable to go there and use it this year.

I had planned to get a Jubilee commemorative tin of Walker's biscuits or some jars of Oxford marmalade if they had run out of the tins.

I keep a packet of Russian Caravan leaf tea and a one-person pot but tea bags are much more simple. What do you think of microwaving a mug of water before adding the bag? I read that this method is used and wondered if it knocks all the air out? I was always taught to use the water from a kettle just off the boil and pour slowly from a short height to add air!

Annpan, I was introduced to that microwave-method of tea-making while watching the Aussie film Muriel's Wedding . .. Oh! The sophistication of those town's folk in Porpoise Spit!

DH still roars with laughter every time it turns up on TV.

I tend to agree with Ginny about Louie's behavior. I cut him some slack, as we say here, due to his young age and the length of the ceremony. I'm sure that there was a lot of stress, in general, which children tend to pick up easily and reflect. I'm certain Kate could and will handle it all with her usual grace. I, for one, am grateful we are not living in the Victorian days, and even later, when "children were to be seen and not heard."

When my late husband was a City Councillor, we regularly attended Citizenship ceremonies. I took my two children, they were around eight and ten by the end of his appointment.

The ceremony could be a long event so I put them into an empty room at the Council chambers with books and drawing materials, then collected them for the buffet supper.

I couldn't expect them to keep still all that time!

My D made a point of mentioning that no children were to attend her wedding reception.

There was some grumbling!

Hurray for your daughter, Annpan ! Badly behaved children can ruin a lovely event like that.