Platinum Jubilee: Queen makes surprise appearance on Buckingham Palace balcony at culmination of celebrations

Watch: Queen thrills crowds with appearance on Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of Jubilee weekend

The Queen thrilled crowds gathered on The Mall for her Platinum Jubilee by making an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the culmination of celebrations.

The monarch joined other senior members of the Royal Family for an appearance on the balcony on Sunday evening as the national anthem was sung to her.

During the short appearance, which lasted less than three minutes, The Queen joined Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family.

The surprise appearance came at the culmination of four days of celebration of The Queen's 70 years on the throne and concluded the Platinum Jubilee pageant, which saw more than 10,000 performers take part in four different acts, each helping tell the story of her historic reign.

The Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George, the Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and the Duchess of Cambridge appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the end of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, on day four of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Picture date: Sunday June 5, 2022.
The Queen wore green as she appeared alongside other senior royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony. (PA)

During her appearance on the balcony, thousands of people gathered on The Mall sang the National Anthem.

Among those were Paula and Patrick Queenan, from Radlett in Hertfordshire, who said the Queen and the royal family coming out on to the balcony was the best part of the jubilee celebrations.

Paula Queenan, 57, said: "Seeing the Queen come out on the balcony was amazing.

"We didn’t know if she’d come or not. This was the first day that I’ve been here and this was the real highlight."

Crowds are seen on The Mall with Queen Elizabeth II shown on a screen during the singing of the National Anthem at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace, London, on day four of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Picture date: Sunday June 5, 2022.
The Queen's appearance thrilled thousands of people gathered on The Mall. (PA)

Patrick Queenan, 58, added: "I came for the fly past on Thursday and the atmosphere was fantastic.

"Our daughter and her fiancé came down from Sheffield today. They’re both doctors and so they’re going to head back now and they’re on duty tonight.

"We had a street party on Friday, the whole street came to ours and sang the national anthem. Seeing the Queen has been the best bit of this week."

Anne Newing, 82, from Sevenoaks in Kent, was back in London for the Platinum Jubilee after visiting the capital for the Queen's coronation when she was 11.

The 82-year-old, who was in London with her daughter Susan Newing, 59, said it was "amazing" to see the monarch again on her Platinum Jubilee.

"I came to the coronation when I was 11 and I’m now 82, it was just incredible, just lovely," she said.