The 56th edition of the carnival drew a million people to the streets of west London to celebrate the city's diversity and its Caribbean community - traces its roots to the hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Caribbean, who came to Britain between 1948 and 1971 to help rebuild the country following World War Two.
“Hundreds of thousands of people came to Notting Hill Carnival today to enjoy a fantastic celebration,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Yesterday's celebrations featured a dazzling display of fancy trucks draped in colourful materials, carrying bands and sound systems playing Soca and Reggae songs, surrounded by people in bright festival costumes, with many bringing flags of many Caribbean nations, as floats and performers are making their way through the streets.
The festival includes a parade showcasing the best of masquerade dancing, Calypso, Steel Bands and sound systems, with Notting Hill Carnival's chief executive, Matthew Phillip, said: “The event is Britain's biggest celebration of inclusion - of the things we have in common, rather than focusing on our differences".
First organised in 1959, by Trinidadian activist Claudia Jones created the Caribbean carnival in St Pancras Town Hall in London, in response to race riots, which planted the seeds for the Notting Hill Carnival, one of the world's largest street parties, over the years, the event has developed into the vibrant celebration it is today of multiculturalism and of how generations of migrants and their descendants have contributed to British society.
"It is all about celebrating each other, and always respecting each other," organisers said. The annual vibrant celebration of Caribbean heritage, arts and culture, it’s said to be Europe’s biggest street party and is billed by them (the organisers) as “the greatest community-led event on the planet”.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised the “fantastic scenes” at the carnival on Sunday. Mr Khan posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Fantastic scenes at Notting Hill Carnival today celebrating London’s Caribbean communities.
“Carnival is part of the very fabric of our city and an amazing way to bring communities together.” More than a million people was said to have attend the Notting Hill Carnival across the three days this year.
