Drew, four, from Norwich, waves her Union flag on The Mall on Wednesday
(Picture: PA)Millions of people across the UK are gearing up to join in national celebrations in honour of the Queen during the special extended Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
Huge crowds will be hoping to get a glimpse of the Queen and other royals - including Harry and Meghan, who are jetting in from California with their children - as a series of big events are held in London across the four days.
Meanwhile tens of thousands of street parties are set to be thrown up and down the land to mark the monarch’s 70-year reign.
The commemorations kick-start with the traditional Trooping the Colour military spectacle on Thursday, involving more than 1,500 officers and soldiers and 350 horses from the Household Division.
The Queen’s attendance is only likely to be confirmed on the morning, with royal fans hoping to see her appear on the balcony with her family for a special flypast, and possibly even review the troops.
In the evening, more than 3,000 beacons will be set ablaze across the UK and the Commonwealth in tribute to the Queen, with the principal Tree of Trees beacon illuminated outside the Palace.
A service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral will be held on on Friday, while on Saturday the BBC’s Party at the Palace will entertain a live crowd of 22,000 people and a television audience of millions.
On Sunday, millions will gather for patriotic street parties, picnics and barbecues, with more than 85,000 Big Jubilee Lunches being held across the UK.
The finale is the Jubilee Pageant through the streets of London, with a cast of 6,000 performers and close to 200 celebrities joining the carnival procession.
