Following the stars and royals shining at the star-studded Platinum Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace on Saturday and the Queen showing great humour - as she shared a pot of tea with Paddington Bear in a pre-filmed, heart-warming sketch - the Platinum Pageant, along The Mall yesterday, was the last of the official events of a fantastic weekend of celebrations for 70 years of service by Queen Elizabeth II.

Her appearance rounded off a huge equally-star-studded procession which saw carnival floats celebrating the seven decades of her reign - with millions of people also holding Jubilee parties and street lunches in towns and cities across the UK.

For most of the 22,000 fans attending The Platinum Party at the Palace, the Royal Family were the real stars, as they did their best, singing along and waving flags in time to some of the stars who performed – including; Queen (the band), Alicia Keys, Elbow, Duran Duran, Sir Rod Stewart, George Ezra, Diana Ross and a performance by Sir Elton John – the Pageant was a sight to behold, as the eyes of the world were transfixed on the best of what Britain – as a whole – represents today.

The Queen was joined by three generations of her family on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the finale of the pageant, and she said that she was humbled and deeply touched by Platinum Jubilee celebrations held across the UK for her reign. The pageant began with a military parade with personnel from the UK's armed forces and from across the Commonwealth, with the military leading a colourful open-top double-decker buses depicting the different decades of the Queen's reign - with a host of celebrities representing achievements in music, fashion and the arts aboard each one.

There was a peloton of 300 cyclists on bikes of all shapes and sizes, led by the Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, and a parade of vintage cars that saw a fleet of Morris Minors in various vivid colours, followed by a collection of James Bond cars - all moving very slowly.

A fleet of vintage cars and mopeds made their way along The Mall, with one carrying Bake Off judge Prue Leith. Her car had to be pushed after it broke down. Other TV personalities, musicians, chefs, sportspeople, designers, and artists who have helped shape British culture of the last 70 years also took part.

Singer Sir Cliff Richard, boxer Mike Tyson, model Naomi Campbell and athlete Sir Mo Farah were also joined by cultural icons such as the Trotters' Robin Reliant from sitcom Only Fools and Horses, the video game character PacMan, and children's TV characters who also filled the streets. Participants also performed a Bollywood wedding scene in one section of the parade and there was a float featuring well known children's TV characters and a carnival section saw people dressed in a blaze of colours on what was a memorable day for all.

A number of enormous animal puppets depicting swans, a bull, snakes, ravens and a rainbow peacock then moved along the route - before the show ended with a performance of Perfect from Ed Sheeran, and the mass rendition of God Save the Queen.

In a statement issued as the long weekend's events drew to a close, the Queen, who is 96, said she had been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship she had seen over during the four-day celebration. It said: "When it comes to how to mark 70 years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow.

“It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee.

"While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family. I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come.

"I thank you most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations." It was signed, ‘Elizabeth R.’