Thousands of people across Greater Manchester have kicked off the four-day Bank Holiday weekend in style with a selection of sun-soaked street parties to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
With streets decked out in red, white, and blue bunting, and flags commemorating the momentous occasion, it wasn't difficult to get into the Jubilee spirit, especially at some of the planned celebrations across the region.
Over in Oldham, the Middleton and Chadderton Sea Cadets hosted a large celebration, attended by the town's Mayor Elaine Garry, which not only paid tribute to the Queen's 70 years on the throne, but also to some of the cadets themselves.
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Mayor Garry handed out commemorative coins to cadets in attendance, shaking their hands as the youngsters saluted her, before the Royal British Legion took centre stage to thank the unit for taking part in last year's Poppy Appeal.
A celebration for Queen and country was a fitting place to mark the group's fundraising efforts, after the unit raised £1,441.05 ahead of last year's Remembrance Day.
Petty Officer White and her husband Sergeant White were both celebrated for organising the event. PO White took a moment to ask friends and family members of the sea cadets to continue donating to the organisation so they could run more celebrations like this one, and "keep the lights on" for the foreseeable future.
Over in Dobcross, residents at Victoria Quay came together to organise an impressive gathering, with everyone contributing to the traditional street party in some way - by helping with decorations or making or buying food.
Resident Rachael Smith even put together some of the Queen's signature cocktail - two parts Dubonnet mixed with one part dry gin.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , Mrs Smith said: "Most people have come out today, there are a few that are a little elderly so haven't made it out but it's really nice to see everyone. I put in for the funding but everyone chipped in to make it happen.
"We've got some little Colin the Caterpillar cakes that one of the girls painted crowns onto, some homemade scones, and I've made some of the Queen's favourite drink, Dubonnet and gin, it's very strong but I quite like it actually.
"I've celebrated every other Jubilee, the Diamond, Gold, and Silver, but this one's quite remarkable, can you imagine being on the throne for 70 years? It's really a once in a lifetime thing isn't it?"
Rachael also made little glass charms for people in the street using the Union Jack colours with people's names on so they could have a little keepsake from the event whilst also being able to remember which drink was theirs.
People started decorating the street from 9am on Thursday morning, stringing up bunting across the road, hanging banners and flags, and even popping up a life-sized cut out of Her Majesty herself - with lots of people heading to have their photo taken next to the monarch.
Another resident Alice Firth worked with Nina Ainsworth to make Jubilee-themed caterpillar cakes today, after finding the specific royal versions had sold out completely when they visited the shops. Together they painted tiny golden crowns onto the cakes, sticking British flags and tying little ribbons around some of them too.
Alice said: "It's amazing, it's a lot better than I thought it was going to be, there's a really nice community feeling and the weather's been really good too.
"It's great to see everyone come out and really get the community together for this, it's incredible."
After seating everyone at an impressively long table (helped by one of the local builders lending some scaffolding boards to elongate the table even further), everyone tucked in to a mountain of sandwiches, cakes, and snacks, before a few of the residents came out with jelly and trifle for dessert.
Several Jubilee-themed party games were planned for the rest of the evening, with nearly everyone having a go at playing "Pin the Diamond on the Crown", with a Royal-themed bingo game on the way afterwards.
Elsewhere, residents at Springbank Care Home in Heywood were getting ready for a weekend of Jubilee celebrations after dressing the home in bunting, banners, and flags.
Drinkers in Manchester City Centre were unable to escape the festivities either, with lines of bunting hung up outside most establishments, and several flags up in the city centre to mark the occasion too.
Some knitted bunting was spotted outside Marks and Spencer in the city centre too, with some creative crafters knitting or crocheting a Union Jack and a small stuffed corgi onto the woollen masterpiece.
The Manchester Flower show this weekend is Jubilee themed, with some fitting nods to Queen Elizabeth in some of the displays across the city centre.
In London, Her Majesty stood on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with several members of her closest family to watch an RAF flypast, with aircraft passing straight down The Mall and over the Palace to mark the Jubilee.
The monarch chose to stay in her residence to watch the Trooping of the Colour in her honour, as the 96-year-old is facing some mobility issues at the moment. Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday that the Queen will not be attending the service at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday due to the 'discomfort' she experienced at the event.
The Manchester Evening News will be bringing you more coverage of the various Jubilee events happening across the region this weekend, including several Jubilee beacon ceremonies taking place this evening as hundreds of them will be lit across the UK and the Commonwealth.
Tomorrow, our reporters will be back on the road to bring you the action from several street parties taking place in Stockport, Rochdale, and Manchester City Centre.
We'll also have all the latest from the Refuge Jubilee Street Party and the East Lancashire Railway party in Bury, and the action in London.
