«The queen’s jubilee? Like an episode of The Crown “

Regardless of whether you are a fan of the royal family or not, a four-day weekend is always a cause for celebration and, after a two-year hiatus, the hunger for celebration nationwide is palpable. From the grand opening of the long-awaited Elizabeth Line to special Jubilee offers in stores across the country, from front doors adorned with the Union Jack flag, to corgi-shaped cookies, the Platinum Jubilee has finally arrived and has been welcomed with joy.

As an Italian who has lived in London for 11 years, for me the idea of ​​celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s reign is equivalent to being part of a real-life episode of The Crown. However, the reality is very different: unless you bought a ticket in March or set your alarm at 5 am to take a seat at The Mall, it’s next to impossible for you to see the Trooping the Color show, nor the iconic appearance of the queen and her dynasty on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

The best plan B option for anyone who hadn’t planned ahead, they were the lawns of St James’s Park, Hyde Park and Parliament Square covered in picnic blankets, Union Jacks and cheery groups of people who wanted to be part of the celebration day. The gardens, moreover, provided an ideal space to sit and watch the surprising flight of over 70 aircraft over the capital.

While the Queen herself will not be able to attend key Jubilee events, including the Friday commemoration at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Brits and tourists will have plenty of opportunities to join in the festivities over the long weekend through a multitude of street parties, afternoon teas and official events such as the Party at the Palace on Saturdays and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sundays.

Eating scones and sipping a glass of sparkling wine unites everyone, but it is the idea of ​​being part of this unprecedented historical moment that drives myriads of people to the streets. Many of the people who watched the parade told me they had taken to the streets just because this jubilee is “The last of the queen”. It’s hard to imagine another ruler reaching this milestone or even what the future of the British monarchy will be like without Queen Elizabeth, but only time will tell if his record as the longest-serving monarch in UK history will be overturned, and if another Jubilee. Platinum will never be celebrated again.