BBC

The Queen has watched the Derby at Epsom, having earlier driven on the race course to begin the first major event of the Diamond Jubilee weekend marking 60 years of her reign.

Racegoers cheered as the royal motorcade arrived at the winning post. Mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins then sang the national anthem.

Meanwhile, gun salutes echoed across London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

Street parties were held in numerous locations, with more planned later.

The Queen, wearing royal blue, was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh along with their sons the Duke of York and Earl of Wessex, and granddaughters Beatrice and Eugenie.

After some time in the royal box, she went to the paddock to inspect some of the horses running in the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup.

After the race she awarded the cup to Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of the winner St Nicholas Abbey, as well as meeting the horse’s owner and jockey.

Around 150,000 people were estimated to be at Epsom.

The favourite Camelot won the Derby, giving Aidan O’Brien his fourth straight Classic winner, following victory for his horse Was in the Epsom Oaks on Friday, and Camelot’s 2,000 Guineas win and the triumph of Homecoming Queen in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

Singer Jenkins spoke of her performance: “I don’t think I’ve ever actually sang the anthem just as close. I mean, she was literally a few feet away from me. So this is definitely a day that I will never forget.”

The BBC’s Clare Balding, at Epsom, said there there was a “real buzz” about the place, with the floral display outside the royal box decked out in red, white and blue.

“I think it’s a huge endorsement of racing and a royal seal of approval, if you like, on the sport that the Queen has chosen for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to officially start on Derby day at Epsom.”

Meanwhile, crews of a 1,000-strong flotilla have been putting finishing touches to their vessels in preparation for their role in escorting the royal barge along the Thames on Sunday for the Jubilee flotilla.

One skipper, Rob Salvidge from Ramsgate, said the excitement among his fellow sailors was building.

“Tomorrow this river is just going to be full of a who’s who, really, of all sorts of interesting ships - great and small, old and new - from the history of Britain and also the history of the monarchy… celebrating the Jubilee.”