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Gun salutes across Britain were due to launch celebrations at 1200GMT, marking the exact anniversary of the queen's coronation, whilethe sovereign herself was to indulge in her love of horse racing atthe Epsom Derby. Tens of thousands of people were awaiting the queen at theracecourse, while thousands more paraded through the Scottish cityof Perth, held community parties and even travelled to watchmilitary bands rehearse in London ahead of the main celebrations. "It's not every morning you wake up on a day that will bewritten about in the history books," declared the Sun , Britain's best-selling newspaper. "Make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. It may becenturies before another comes along." Cloudy weather and forecasts of rain appeared unlikely to deter thepublic from partying amid the highest support for the royals indecades. A recent poll showed about 80 percent of Britons want thecountry to stay a monarchy. People were already camping in tents beside the Thames river aheadof a pageant of about 1000 boats that will sail through Londontoday with the 86-year-old queen in a royal barge decked with10,000 flowers. Britons have planned more than 9500 street parties for today, andon Monday, some 4000 beacons will be lit across the Commonwealthfollowing a huge picnic and star-studded concert at BuckinghamPalace. Tuesday - like Monday a public holiday - is devoted to ceremonialevents including a thanksgiving service and carriage procession. Crowds of racegoers, some in top hats and tailcoats, were arrivingat Epsom just outside London in anticipation of the monarch'sappearance at a racecourse whose tents were covered with Union Jackflags and bunting. The queen, an avid horse-racing fan who still rides despite herage, was expected to be driven down the course in an open-toppedvehicle with husband Prince Philip, 90, before a flag-waving crowdof over 150,000. The Red Arrows aerobatic team will give a display of daredevilflying, and mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins will perform thenational anthem ahead of the Epsom Derby, Britain's richest horserace, which dates back to 1780. The monarch will present the 110-year-old Coronation Cup - renamedthe Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup - to the winner of a race run onthe same course as the Derby. Some 72 horses and six World War I-era 13-pounder gun carriageswere meanwhile headed for parade grounds in central London for a41-gun salute to be echoed around the country. Thousands of people including 1000 pipers and drummers wereparading through the Scottish city of Perth despite an ongoingcampaign north of the border for independence from the UnitedKingdom. In Northern Ireland, even republican party Sinn Fein has supportedcelebrations and offered a gift to the queen for the occasion. Political leaders lined up ahead of the revels to praise the queen,who in 60 years on the throne has won a reputation for shrewdnessand devotion to duty, an unflappable demeanour and a seeminglyinfinite collection of hats. Prime Minister David Cameron said in a video tribute, "I thinkit's hugely important. The Queen has given incredible service - 60years on the throne, a lifetime of service - she's never put a footwrong. "She's hugely popular and respected, and it's an opportunityfor people to give thanks and say thank you." Festivities are set to be more muted across the Commonwealth,mostly made up of former British colonies, but British soldierswere pictured in Afghanistan serving celebratory tea from agold-coloured teapot. In the Telegraph newspaper, Michael Lockett, chief executive of the Thames DiamondJubilee Foundation, said bad weather should not stop the nationtaking the chance to "be part of history." "In these austere times, we need cheering up more thanever," he added, while royal watchers recalled it had pouredwith rain on the day of the queen's coronation. The queen acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952, upon the deathof her father King George VI while she was away in Kenya, and wascrowned the following year on June 2. Queen Elizabeth in numbers. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Wire Mesh Trays , Basket Cable Tray Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Wire Mesh Cable Tray.
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