British people across the country celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as David Cameron paid tributes to the Queen’s unstinting devotion to her duty and ruled out any prospect of her ever stepping down early. The Prime Minister also praised the monarch’s role advising and counselling her governments, speaking of her ability to “cut through the fluff and nonsense” of day-to-day politics. Mr Cameron spoke of the Queen’s “100 per cent dedication” to her role, describing her as “an extraordinarily devoted public servant”. The Queen may be 86, but PM Cameron said he saw no sign of her slowing down or reducing her workload. The four days of celebrations began in earnest with street parties and festivals staged in hundreds of villages, towns and cities across Britain. People are being encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends in street parties or picnics. Almost twice as many street parties are expected to take place to celebrate the Jubilee as were held during last year’s royal wedding, with as many as 10,000 planed. The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family appeared on the Palace balcony and watched an RAF flypast. With thousands of spectators looking on, there was a Feu de Joie (“Fire of Joy”) a celebratory cascade of rifle fire given as a salute by the Queen’s Guard from the forecourt. Large gatherings were held including music, traditional food and big screens showing the major Royal events at Hyde Park and Battersea Park in London. Elsewhere in England, Osborne House on the Isle of Wight is to host Victorian-themed events over the weekend, while Beeston Castle in Cheshire is to stage a mediaeval royal pageant. In Edinburgh, family events are being held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse over the weekend, while Handel’s Coronation Anthems will be performed during a concert at the Usher Hall by the Academy of Ancient Music on Monday.
