Queen Elizabeth Closes Jubilee Festivities with Surprise Appearance and a Personally Signed Letter on Instagram

It has been quite the weekend for royal followers, with lots of high-end fashion, family reunions, rare sightings and more. Now, as we sadly reach the end of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee festivities, Her Royal Majesty decided to leave us with a few surprises.

Throughout the weekend, the queen has been absent from a few of the events due to mobility issues, but she was still present at moments like the lighting of the Principal Beacon, as well as Trooping the Colour. And today, the queen made an unexpected appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to close out the celebrations.

Queen Elizabeth chose a bright green ensemble for the occasion, and she was seen walking out to cheering crowds in a video that was shared to the royal family and BBC Instagram accounts. The caption read, “A smiling Queen appears on Buckingham Palace balcony as the nation thanks her for 70 years of dedicated service.”

In the video, a band plays “God Save the Queen” while the monarch stands before the crowd looking emotional. On the balcony, the queen was joined by her eldest son, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles. They were also joined by Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children.

While we loved this surprise appearance, it wasn't the only way Queen Elizabeth wrapped up the weekend. She also shared a rare, personally-signed letter to the royal family Instagram account.

In her letter, the queen said, “When it comes to how to mark seventy 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.”