Queen off to the races as jubilee events begin

AAA??Jun. 2, 2012?5:10 AM ET
Queen off to the races as jubilee events begin
AP

FILE - In this April 21, 2006 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets the public during a walkabout to celebrate her 80th birthday in Windsor, England. In the next four days, the normal ebb and flow of British life will give way to a series of street parties, flotillas, outdoor concerts and finally the appearance of an elderly great-grandmother on her balcony to wave to her subjects. The pageantry is very grand and very British. But at the heart of the Diamond Jubilee celebration is a nearly universal sense of appreciation for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who is marking 60 years on the throne. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

FILE - In this April 21, 2006 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets the public during a walkabout to celebrate her 80th birthday in Windsor, England. In the next four days, the normal ebb and flow of British life will give way to a series of street parties, flotillas, outdoor concerts and finally the appearance of an elderly great-grandmother on her balcony to wave to her subjects. The pageantry is very grand and very British. But at the heart of the Diamond Jubilee celebration is a nearly universal sense of appreciation for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who is marking 60 years on the throne. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

William Rattray puts up flags in his garden in Fallin, central Scotland ahead of the Jubilee celebrations this weekend Friday June 1, 2012. The patriotic bunting is ready, the golden carriage on standby, the boats freshly painted, the shops filled with royals souvenirs. The normal ebb and flow of British life gives way in the next four days to a series of street parties, flotillas, outdoor concerts and finally the appearance of an elderly great-grandmother on her balcony to wave to her subjects. The pageantry is very grand and very British.(AP Photo/Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

Preparations are made for a Jubilee street party on Canal Street in Manchester, England Friday June 1 2012. The patriotic bunting is ready, the golden carriage on standby, the boats freshly painted, the shops filled with royals souvenirs. The normal ebb and flow of British life gives way in the next four days to a series of street parties, flotillas, outdoor concerts and finally the appearance of an elderly great-grandmother on her balcony to wave to her subjects. The pageantry is very grand and very British.(AP Photo/Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Preparations are made for a Jubilee street party on Canal Street in Manchester, England Friday June 1 2012. The patriotic bunting is ready, the golden carriage on standby, the boats freshly painted, the shops filled with royals souvenirs. The normal ebb and flow of British life gives way in the next four days to a series of street parties, flotillas, outdoor concerts and finally the appearance of an elderly great-grandmother on her balcony to wave to her subjects. The pageantry is very grand and very British.(AP Photo/Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

A Brown Lemur plays with flags that have been put up by staff at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling, Scotland ahead of their Jubilee Funday being held on Sunday Friday June 1, 2012. The patriotic bunting is ready, the golden carriage on standby, the boats freshly painted, the shops filled with royals souvenirs. The normal ebb and flow of British life gives way in the next four days to a series of street parties, flotillas, outdoor concerts and finally the appearance of an elderly great-grandmother on her balcony to wave to her subjects. The pageantry is very grand and very British.(AP Photo/Andrew Milligan/PA Wire )

LONDON (AP) ? Queen Elizabeth II is off to the races, at the start of a four-day weekend celebrating her 60 years on the throne.

Diamond Jubilee festivities officially begin Saturday with a 41-gun salute fired by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery at Horse Guards Parade in central London.

The 86-year-old monarch then will attend the Epsom Derby, one of the year's biggest horse-racing meetings.

The queen took the throne in 1952 and most Britons have known no other monarch.

Despite cool, damp weather in much of the country, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to participate in celebrations.

The events will include street parties, Sunday's 1,000-boat flotilla down the River Thames and a Monday pop concert in front of Buckingham Palace featuring Elton John and Paul McCartney.

Associated Press

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