Today's lunch on The Mall to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday has got underway - and, after several days of bright sunshine and hot temperatures, it is raining.
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.
Yesterday, the annual Trooping the Colour took place to mark the Queen's official birthday - with this year being a slightly more special occassion, being her 90th - and, after the ceremony, Princess Charlotte made her Buckingham Palace balcony debut. The princess and other members of the Royal Family waved to the thousands of well-wishers below as RAF planes took part in a flypast overhead. The Queen wore a bright green outfit.
Queen's birthday: Guests brave rain at Queen's picnic lunch
BBC News
12 June 2016
About 10,000 guests are expected for the lunch
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 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.
Further showers during the day are likely, forecasters have said
Security for the event has been tight and people have had to walk through body scanners
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'
Princess Charlotte made her royal debut on the Buckingham Palace balcony yesterday, rounding off the Trooping the Colour celebrations
The young princess, pictured with her mother, father and older brother, gave a royal wave
River tribute: Royal barge Gloriana led a 40-strong flotilla down the Thames to mark the Queen's official birthday yesterday
Famous flyers: The Red Arrows, pictured, were among the planes performing stunts during the RAF fly-past over Buckingham Palace
Chopper: An RAF Chinook helicopter flies over London towards Buckingham Palace as part of the fly-past for the birthday celebration yesterday
Bird's-eye view: The full extent of the crowds turning out for the big day can be seen from high in the air above Buckingham Palace
Procession: Hundreds of mounted soldiers made their way back to the palace along The Mall after the completion of Trooping the Colour
Marching: A procession of the Household Division moved down The Mall back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony
Masses: The troops were followed by a crowd of thousands who filled up The Mall in an effort to see the royals on the balcony
Festive greeting: After the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, the Duchess of Cambridge, centre, led other Royals in watching the cavalry march past Buckingham Palace from the balcony
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.
"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".
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.
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.
Picnic weather forecast
When tables and chairs were set up this morning the weather was clear
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.
"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.
Queen's eye view: See the Trooping the Colour in 360 degrees
In pictures: The Queen's official 90th celebrations
The Queen and her 600 charities
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.
"I have great admiration for the Queen. I really do," she said. "I think she's coped excellently."
'A relaxed affair'
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.
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.
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.
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
Queen's birthday: Guests brave rain at Queen's picnic lunch - BBC News
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.
Yesterday, the annual Trooping the Colour took place to mark the Queen's official birthday - with this year being a slightly more special occassion, being her 90th - and, after the ceremony, Princess Charlotte made her Buckingham Palace balcony debut. The princess and other members of the Royal Family waved to the thousands of well-wishers below as RAF planes took part in a flypast overhead. The Queen wore a bright green outfit.
Queen's birthday: Guests brave rain at Queen's picnic lunch
BBC News
12 June 2016
About 10,000 guests are expected for the lunch
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 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.
Further showers during the day are likely, forecasters have said
Security for the event has been tight and people have had to walk through body scanners
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'
Princess Charlotte made her royal debut on the Buckingham Palace balcony yesterday, rounding off the Trooping the Colour celebrations
The young princess, pictured with her mother, father and older brother, gave a royal wave
River tribute: Royal barge Gloriana led a 40-strong flotilla down the Thames to mark the Queen's official birthday yesterday
Famous flyers: The Red Arrows, pictured, were among the planes performing stunts during the RAF fly-past over Buckingham Palace
Chopper: An RAF Chinook helicopter flies over London towards Buckingham Palace as part of the fly-past for the birthday celebration yesterday
Bird's-eye view: The full extent of the crowds turning out for the big day can be seen from high in the air above Buckingham Palace
Procession: Hundreds of mounted soldiers made their way back to the palace along The Mall after the completion of Trooping the Colour
Marching: A procession of the Household Division moved down The Mall back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony
Masses: The troops were followed by a crowd of thousands who filled up The Mall in an effort to see the royals on the balcony
Festive greeting: After the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, the Duchess of Cambridge, centre, led other Royals in watching the cavalry march past Buckingham Palace from the balcony
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.
"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".
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.
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.
Picnic weather forecast
When tables and chairs were set up this morning the weather was clear
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.
"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.
Queen's eye view: See the Trooping the Colour in 360 degrees
In pictures: The Queen's official 90th celebrations
The Queen and her 600 charities
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.
"I have great admiration for the Queen. I really do," she said. "I think she's coped excellently."
'A relaxed affair'
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.
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.
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.
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
Queen's birthday: Guests brave rain at Queen's picnic lunch - BBC News
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