Queen marks 90th with huge birthday lunch in London

Ten thousand guests braved rain to take part in a giant street party in front of Buckingham Palace on Sunday to celebrate the official 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

He spoke from the stage after he and the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry had led the Royals on a walkabout.

This year’s event will be the first to be held on The Mall.

With rain falling, numerous ticket holders were decked out in sheer white oversized ponchos handed out by the organisers.

Guests were handed plastic ponchos to protect them from rain which got progressively heavier ahead of the lunch, while others brought along Union Jack emblazoned umbrellas.

Mr King said: “I told Harry we were farmers and were hardy so we’re just used to the wet”.

The couple received their tickets through the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire steam railway.

Guests wear transparent waterproofs as they gather on the Mall for the Patron’s Lunch, an event to mark Britain’s Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday, in London, June 12, 2016.

After reaching 90 in April and three days marking her official birthday, the Queen joked: “I much appreciate the kindness of all your birthday wishes”.

There has been some criticism of The Patron’s Lunch after it was revealed that tickets cost 150, but organisers insisted the price was fair because it was not a state-funded event.

The hamper lunch, which included pork pies, cupcakes and a bottle of Pimms, was the idea of the Queen’s oldest grandson Peter Phillips.

A picnic hamper in The Mall, central London, for the Patron’s Lunch in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday.

The general public will be able to enjoy the festivities on large screens located in the Royal Parks, Green Park and St. James Park.

Addressing the Patron’s Lunch in The Mall – dubbed the world’s biggest street party – Her Majesty said: “To everyone here today, and to those holding street parties elsewhere I would like to say thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you continue to give me”. Otherwise know as The Queen’s Birthday Parade.

A flower power theme will dominate the 1960s, while a 1980s “neon” vibe will feature Rubik’s cubes and leg warmers.

Pamela Mayne and her husband Stephen, from County Durham, were one of thousands who had shrugged off the weather to head to The Mall.

Before I finish, I hope you won’t mind if I say a personal thank you to The Queen – and to do so on behalf of all her grandchildren – and great-grandchildren. When he heard we were farmers he said ‘in or out?’ and I said I was going to ask him the same.

Before she made an appearance the Queen was spotted peeking through a Buckingham Palace window as the persistent rain fell. “Yes if it had been sunny”.

Audrey Asquith, from Reading, sat at a table in her poncho eating an ice cream. The lollies were being given out free at stands along The Mall.

The lengthy white hooded rain covers were emblazoned with The Patron’s Lunch logo on the back.