Queen Elizabeth Makes Surprise Appearance at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant

• The British monarch appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony to bring this weekend’s festivities to a close.

Queen Elizabeth kicked off the official Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Thursday, making two balcony appearances during Trooping the Colour. And while episodic mobility issues have kept her from appearing at several of the events over the course of the weekend, including the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s on Friday and the Epsom Derby yesterday, she is making her presence known at today’s pageant, the grand spectacle bringing the Platinum Jubilee celebrations to a close.

Her appearance was not confirmed in advance today, but at the end of the pageant, she appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside Prince Charles and Camilla, and the Cambridges, representing the heirs to the throne. Before she was seen at the Palace, the royal standard flag was raised announcing that she was at the London residence.

This is hardly the Queen’s only surprise of the weekend. Last night, while she was not physically at the Party at the Palace, a special jubilee concert, she appeared alongside fellow British icon Paddington Bear in a surprise short film. The clip, which has since gone viral, showed the pair having tea and the Queen finally revealing exactly what she keeps in her handbag—spoiler alert! It’s a marmalade sandwich.