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CNN Live At Daybreak

Queen's Golden Jubilee Parade Underway

Aired June 04, 2002 - 05:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We're live in London again as the Royal Family leaves Buckingham Palace. The parade for the Golden Jubilee is now in full swing, as you can see. Princes Harry and William, along with their dad, Prince Charles, in one carriage. Sophie and Prince Edward was in another. And in the front, the Queen, the Queen Mother, and she was -- oh not the Queen Mother, I apologize for that, Queen Elizabeth. She was in the golden carriage which has only been used three times in the past 50 years. They're on their way to St. Paul's Cathedral for a special service to mark her 50 years on the throne.

Of course that's a big change from what she was up to last night, rocking the house with the rest of the royals.

CNN's Walter Rodgers has a look at the big to-do.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the moment rock star Brian May of Queen twanged out "God Save the Queen" atop Buckingham Palace, you knew it was a party you'd remember the rest of your life.

Outside the palace, 150,000 people unabashedly showed their patriotism, something many in Britain have believed politically incorrect for some time. And when Shirley Bassey belted out "Goldfinger" in honor of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee, the palace party rocked.

The 76-year-old British Queen arrived fashionably late. Her son, Prince Charles, heir apparent to the British throne, was acting host. In tow his two sons, Princes William and Harry.

An aging Sir Paul McCartney serenaded her Majesty.

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY, SINGER: Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl. Someday I'm going to make her mine. Someday I'm going to make her mine.

RODGERS: The Queen selected another Beatles song as the anthem of her Golden Jubilee.

CROWD SINGING: All you need is love. All you need is love.

RODGERS: It fell to Prince Charles to honor his mother.

PRINCE CHARLES: Your Majesty.

RODGERS: Charles also betraying a rare glimpse of Royal intimacy.

PRINCE CHARLES: Mummy.

RODGERS: At times the Queen seemed almost embarrassed by the attention.

PRINCE CHARLES: You have embodied something vital in our lives, continuity. You have been a beacon of tradition and stability in the midst of profound, sometimes perilous, change.

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three cheers -- three cheers for her Majesty the Queen.

Hip hip.

CROWD: Hooray.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hip hip.

CROWD: Hooray.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hip hip.

CROWD: Hooray.

RODGERS: As the evening progressed, however, Queen Elizabeth seemed increasingly to enjoy herself, especially when lighting the Royal rocket signaling the start of a quarter hour of pyrotechnics. The Buckingham Palace roof became a launch pad for two-and-a-half tons of fireworks. Magically, the staid old palace facade was transformed by a sound and light show.

Buckingham Palace probably has not shaken so since the Germans bombed it in 1940. But then, this was a special night. In the last 1,000 years, only four other British monarchs have reigned so long.

Walter Rodgers, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Let's go back to London right now. As you can see, the Queen is now leaving the palace in her golden carriage. Wow, that is gorgeous. This carriage has only been used three times in the past 50 years. She is on her way to St. Paul's Cathedral for a special service to mark her 50 years on the throne. And you can bet that ceremony will be a lot more somber than last night's shindig was.

Her family has already taken off in two separate carriages. Princes William, Harry and Prince Charles in one, Sophie and Prince Edward in another and they'll all meet up at St. Paul's Cathedral for that special service.

Let's watch a little longer because what a sight.

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