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Millions of people from across the U.K. and the Commonwealth are expected to mark another royal milestone as Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee.
This year, the queen became the first British monarch to achieve a remarkable seven decades on the throne.
Many events, from pure pageantry to pop music shows, have been planned to celebrate this special occasion.
And while street parties, church services and A-list concerts are taking place around the country, it is one of the Queen's official residences, London's Buckingham Palace, that will be the main focus of the celebrations.
The four-day Platinum Jubilee weekend will begin with the Queen's Birthday Parade, traditionally known as Trooping The Colour—so how can you watch it?
How to Watch Trooping the Colour 2022
The Queen's Birthday Parade will kick off at 11 a.m. BST (6 a.m. ET) on Thursday, June 2—the first day of a special four-day weekend.
Grandstand tickets for Trooping the Colour quickly sold out due to exceptional demand to witness a piece of royal history.
But onlookers are fortunately also able to enjoy the atmosphere in person as the Queen's Birthday Parade passes along its route between Buckingham Palace and the nearby Horse Guards Parade.
In addition, large TV screens will be erected in the nearby St James' Park for people to watch the event.
Trooping the Colour 2022 will be televised live on BBC One, in addition to live streaming the show online from the BBC iPlayer site.
A VPN will likely be needed to connect to a U.K. server, so it is worth preparing this before attempting to catch the Platinum Jubilee pomp and pageantry.
Trooping the Colour 2022 will see more than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians coming together in the traditional parade to mark the queen's official birthday.
The queen, who is 96, celebrates two birthdays each year—her actual birthday in April and an official birthday in June.
A statement on the official Platinum Jubilee site reads: "Beginning at Buckingham Palace, the Parade will move down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, joined by members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.
"The Parade will close with the traditional RAF fly-past, watched by The Queen and members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace balcony."
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams notes the event is steeped in tradition and history.
"Trooping the Colour originated in the need to distinguish friend from foe in the confusion of battle and the Colours became a rallying point," he told Newsweek.
"The Colour being trooped is that presented by William earlier this month to 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, it is consecrated and carries the regimental battle honours.
"The Queen's Birthday Parade is world-famous, marking her official birthday. George I began the tradition of the monarch having two birthdays."
Buckingham Palace sources recently confirmed Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the disgraced Prince Andrew will not be joining other royals on the palace balcony to watch the parade, as only working royals are expected to watch from there.
Fitzwilliams added: "Queen Victoria began the tradition of balcony appearances at Buckingham Palace in 1851.
"This has become an iconic annual event after Trooping the Colour when the extended royal family assembles on the balcony.
"At the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the small group of royals who appeared were considered to be symbolic of the 'inner core' of the monarchy.
"Seventeen royals will appear on the balcony after Trooping the Colour next Thursday, this is restricted to working royals.
"It has been reported that the extended royal family may appear on the balcony after the final Jubilee event, the Parade, on Sunday, June 5."
Tim Rooke, a highly experienced royal photographer at Shutterstock Editorial, describes the Platinum Jubilee as "a momentous moment for The Queen and for the country and is one unlikely to ever be repeated" and explained the "privilege to have witnessed a small part of her reign."
He told Newsweek: "The Queen is one of the most famous and watched figures in the world, and it has been a real honor to have photographed her during her reign.
"I've followed the Royal family across the world as Shutterstock Editorials Royal Photographer, visiting locations such as Australia, Canada, Bosnia and Ireland.
"Despite decades of this work, I am always fascinated by how the public continuously love to see The Queen completing her duties."
He also noted how the hard work of the role has its rewards, adding: "When photographing The Queen, you must contend with crowds of onlookers and other interested photographers.
"However, fighting for the perfect shot makes it even more rewarding when it does come through.
"The Queen never poses, so any captured smiles are genuine moments between her and those around her.
"My trick is to always ensure I'm in the right position to make it look as if she's smiling directly at me, my camera, and all who then view the images of her."
