UK And Commonwealth Celebrate Queen's Diamond Jubilee

A weekend of Diamond Jubilee celebrations has culminated with a royal balcony appearance and Red Arrows flypast at Buckingham Palace.

The Duke of Edinburgh was absent from proceedings from Sunday onwards, as he was admitted to hospital in London with a bladder infection.

But the Queen and other senior royals appeared on the balcony this afternoon after a weekend of events around the world marked the Jubilee, only the second time a British monarch has reigned for 60 years.

The first was Queen Victoria.

On a rainy Sunday, one thousand boats of all shapes and sizes made their way down the Thames, headed by the royal party in the Queen's barge.

And today a military procession and a service at St Paul’s Cathedral honoured the Queen's sixty years of service.

More than 4,000 beacons were lit across the UK and the Commonwealth yesterday, leading up to one final beacon lit at 10.30pm outside Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth II, at a Diamond Jubilee concert which included Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Jessie J and Paul McCartney.

The concert was attended by 12,000 ticket-holders and thousands more spectators lined the Mall.

But a shadow has been cast over celebrations as ministers have been urged to investigate claims that unemployed people from across England were bussed in to steward the concert unpaid and made to sleep under London Bridge.

(NE)