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01 June 2022

Queen’s plane forced to abort landing as she flies back to London for Platinum Jubilee celebrations

01 June 2022

The Queen’s plane was forced to abort landing in London on Tuesday as she travelled home to Windsor Castle, it has been reported.

The Monarch, 96, was travelling from Balmoral ready to join the nation’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations marking her 70 year-reign.

The Sun reports her 13-seater was caught in an electrical storm, rain and hail which forced the pilot to abandon landing on the first attempt.

The Queen used a golf buggy to visit the Chelsea Flower Show because of her mobility problems (James Whatling/PA) (PA Wire)

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “The Queen’s flight was delayed due to a lightning storm, all the correct procedures were followed and there were no safety concerns.”

The aircraft, an Embraer 135 registered in Luxemburg, made an approach to RAF Northolt shortly before 2:15pm on Tuesday, having departed from Aberdeen at 1:07pm, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.com.

It then conducted a go-around, a procedure in which the aircraft abandons its landing attempt, and made a right turn to the north, climbing back to just over 3,000 feet.

During the following 20 minutes, the jet carried out a series of turns over north London, before finally turning west and lining up for its second landing attempt at RAF Northolt.

The aircraft successfully touched down at 2:39 pm, almost 30 minutes after its first attempt, and taxied off the runway to the south of the airfield.

The flight conducted several turns over north London before its successful landing (Flightradar24.com/PA)

Earlier on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace said the head of state had arrived back at her Berkshire royal residence.

She had travelled to Balmoral on Thursday for a short break in order to pace herself ahead of the busy four-day weekend of festivities.

Millions across the country are set to take to the streets for parties and Big Jubilee Lunches this weekend in honour of the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.

Fairlie Drive in Rainhill, Merseyside is decorated ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

It is the first time in history Britain has celebrated a royal Platinum Jubilee.

Patriotic tributes to the Queen around the UK include a life-size woollen knitted monarch plus corgi made by Holmes Chapel Community Yarn Bombers in Cheshire, and a 5ft 3in Victoria sponge cake in the shape of the sovereign by social media star Lara Mason.

The commemorations kick start with the traditional Trooping the Colour military spectacle on Thursday, involving more than 1,500 officers and soldiers and 350 horses from the Household Division.

But the Queen’s attendance is only likely to be confirmed on the morning, with royal fans hoping to see her appear on the balcony with her family for a special flypast, and possibly even review the troops.

In the evening, more than 3,000 beacons will be set ablaze across the UK and the Commonwealth in tribute to the Queen, with the principal Tree of Trees beacon illuminated outside the Palace.

The gold state coach passes the Houses of Parliament during an early morning rehearsal (Dominic Lipinski/PA) (PA Wire)

There will be no ceremonial journey to the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral for the Queen on Friday June 3, and the monarch, if she attends, will use a different entrance rather than scaling the steep steps.

And the Queen’s planned visit to Epsom for the Derby on Saturday is off, with the Princess Royal attending on her behalf.

Saturday is also the first birthday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s daughter Lilibet, amid speculation the Queen will get to meet her namesake for the first time and possibly attend her christening when Harry and Meghan fly back for the Jubilee.

In the evening, the BBC’s Party at the Palace – set on three stages in front of Buckingham Palace – will entertain a live crowd of 22,000 people and a television audience of millions.

The line-up includes Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Nile Rodgers, Andrea Bocelli, Duran Duran, Bond composer Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow and George Ezra.

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