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| Queen's birthday: Guests brave rain at Queen's picnic lunch | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Heavy bursts of rain have not dampened the spirits of guests attending a picnic-hamper lunch - the last event of three days of celebrations to mark the Queen's official 90th birthday. | |
| The Patron's Lunch is due to attract 10,000 guests, many of whom were given ponchos to wear as they queued to get into the site on The Mall in London. | |
| A carnival parade was also due to begin at 12:00 BST. | |
| The event has been organised by the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips. | The event has been organised by the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips. |
| The open-air lunch and parade are being held to recognise the Queen's patronage of more than 600 organisations in the UK and around the Commonwealth. | |
| Security has been tight, and guests, who have all paid £150 each to attend, will go through body scanners before taking a seat at the picnic tables, which have been set up along The Mall. | |
| In nearby St James's Park, families have also been eating their own picnics in honour of the Queen. | |
| The Pickles family, who took cover underneath some trees, told the BBC: "It's wet but this is exciting." | |
| Another family, who had travelled to London from Nottingham, said: "We're having a fabulous time. We love the Queen, happy birthday." | |
| 'British spirit' | |
| Back at the Patron's Lunch one of the guests was Anne Nutt, who is involved with the scouts and was at the event as Harlow District Scouts in Essex had won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services last year. | |
| Looking at the large puddles in The Mall, Ms Nutt said: "I think today is absolutely marvellous and it's when the British people show their true colours - the true British spirit. | |
| "People have come out from their warm, dry homes for four or five hours in the pouring rain. | |
| "But it's been nice to meet people from other charities and the large number of ex-servicemen that are here." | |
| 'Affectionate' | |
| Ala Lloyd, who is the creative director of the carnival parade, said the eras of the Queen's reign through the decades would be symbolised by different sections of the parade. | Ala Lloyd, who is the creative director of the carnival parade, said the eras of the Queen's reign through the decades would be symbolised by different sections of the parade. |
| "We've got a lovely Commonwealth theme in the 50s with a giant Royal Yacht Britannia, flower power in the 60s, animals and nature in the 70s and crazy neon business going on in the 80s, and embarrassing shorts," she said. | "We've got a lovely Commonwealth theme in the 50s with a giant Royal Yacht Britannia, flower power in the 60s, animals and nature in the 70s and crazy neon business going on in the 80s, and embarrassing shorts," she said. |
| She said she was just trying to do something which was "affectionate and friendly". | She said she was just trying to do something which was "affectionate and friendly". |
| While the main event takes place in London, smaller street parties are being held around the UK. | |
| On Saturday, thousands of people turned out to watch the annual Trooping the Colour parade. | On Saturday, thousands of people turned out to watch the annual Trooping the Colour parade. |
| Dressed in a vivid lime green coat and matching hat, the Queen was escorted down The Mall in a horse-drawn carriage to the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade. | Dressed in a vivid lime green coat and matching hat, the Queen was escorted down The Mall in a horse-drawn carriage to the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade. |
| After the procession of more than 1,600 soldiers and 300 horses, she appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with members of her family, including Princess Charlotte, for an RAF fly past. | After the procession of more than 1,600 soldiers and 300 horses, she appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with members of her family, including Princess Charlotte, for an RAF fly past. |
| Picnic weather forecast | Picnic weather forecast |
| BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood reporting from The Mall in London said rain was expected later, despite a clear sunny morning. | BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood reporting from The Mall in London said rain was expected later, despite a clear sunny morning. |
| She said: "We will see some rain on The Mall when the Patron's Lunch does start. | She said: "We will see some rain on The Mall when the Patron's Lunch does start. |
| "Don't take your brolly here if you're coming to the Patron's Lunch, ponchos will be provided if it rains, and it looks very much that at some stage it's going to." | "Don't take your brolly here if you're coming to the Patron's Lunch, ponchos will be provided if it rains, and it looks very much that at some stage it's going to." |
| The rain was likely to be in short spells rather than a sustained shower, she added. | The rain was likely to be in short spells rather than a sustained shower, she added. |
| Queen's eye view: See the Trooping the Colour in 360 degrees | Queen's eye view: See the Trooping the Colour in 360 degrees |
| In pictures: The Queen's official 90th celebrations | In pictures: The Queen's official 90th celebrations |
| The Queen and her 600 charities | The Queen and her 600 charities |
| 'A relaxed affair' | 'A relaxed affair' |
| By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent | By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent |
| After the service at St Paul's on Friday and the pageantry of Trooping the Colour, the Patron's Lunch is being described as a more relaxed, informal affair. | After the service at St Paul's on Friday and the pageantry of Trooping the Colour, the Patron's Lunch is being described as a more relaxed, informal affair. |
| It will be a unique event which will bring together senior royals, corporate sponsors and 10,000 picnickers seated at tables along The Mall's ceremonial route. | It will be a unique event which will bring together senior royals, corporate sponsors and 10,000 picnickers seated at tables along The Mall's ceremonial route. |
| Many of the tickets were offered to charities with links to the monarch. The price of each ticket - £150. | Many of the tickets were offered to charities with links to the monarch. The price of each ticket - £150. |
| The cost of entry has been criticised as has the fact the Patron's Lunch was not put out to tender and is being run by the Queen's grandson, Peter Phillips. His company will receive an undisclosed fee. | The cost of entry has been criticised as has the fact the Patron's Lunch was not put out to tender and is being run by the Queen's grandson, Peter Phillips. His company will receive an undisclosed fee. |
| But Palace officials stress this is a costly, not-for-profit event which will help charities raise money and their profiles. | But Palace officials stress this is a costly, not-for-profit event which will help charities raise money and their profiles. |
| Given the nature of the British weather, the organisers will have on hand more than 500 litres of sun cream and more than 12,000 rain ponchos. | Given the nature of the British weather, the organisers will have on hand more than 500 litres of sun cream and more than 12,000 rain ponchos. |
| Read more from Peter | Read more from Peter |
| Ninety-year-old Heather Gunner from Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, who will be among the guests attending the street party, spoke of her admiration for the monarch, remarking: "She's got a lot on her plate for her age." | Ninety-year-old Heather Gunner from Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, who will be among the guests attending the street party, spoke of her admiration for the monarch, remarking: "She's got a lot on her plate for her age." |
| Born in the same year as the Queen, she received a ticket to the festivities through the charity Friends of the Elderly. | Born in the same year as the Queen, she received a ticket to the festivities through the charity Friends of the Elderly. |
| "I have great admiration for the Queen. I really do," she said. "I think she's coped excellently." | "I have great admiration for the Queen. I really do," she said. "I think she's coped excellently." |
| What can you learn about longevity from the Queen? | What can you learn about longevity from the Queen? |
| Going to a street party for the Queen's birthday? Share your pictures by emailing yourpics@bbc.co.uk. | Going to a street party for the Queen's birthday? Share your pictures by emailing yourpics@bbc.co.uk. |
| If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
| Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. | Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text 61124. If you are outside the UK, send them to the international number +44 7624 800 100. |
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