Parade closes royal celebrations - 8th June 2022

This colourful parade was the final part of four days of platinum jubilee celebrations of the Queen's 70 year rule. It began with the gold coach which had been used at her coronation.

Behind this came hundreds of scenes which featured music, dancing and fashion from across the years, which demonstrated the changing face of British society.

£15 million was spent on the parade, which included over 10,000 people from the UK and the Commonwealth. The four-day celebration brought hundreds of thousands of people into central London from across the world. All were keen to see the public events and the royal family.

Kim Darcy had come from California.

Kim Darcy: "Well, it, it was - very exhilarating - a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Especially when we actually got to see the Queen come out on the balcony. That was just - everyone around me was, was crying, especially singing the anthem. And it was just, it was unreal. And I'm so fortunate to be here to experience it."

Old age stopped the Queen, who's 96, from being at some of the celebrations. However, she made a surprise appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the parade, where she was joined by three future kings.

It was an incredible moment for Tim Lunze from Germany.

Tim Lunze: "It's was very exciting. I am - it was one moment in life that is, that I see, see her because not many people can, could see her. And we were running and running and running and then we stand in front of the balcony. And at this, until this moment you don't know if, if she come or if she not come. And then she come and it was, was so nice."

Many felt the Queen's appearance on the balcony was the perfect ending. Colin Hewitt from Manchester agreed.

Colin Hewitt: "Only way to end - see the queen, say goodbye and we'll see you again. Yeah, the best way to end the show, yes."