Hundreds of thousands have gathered in the capital for London’s annual Pride parade, with the capital centre decked in rainbows to celebrate the event.
Crowds lined the streets from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square to watch the floats pass by, with dancers, martial arts performers and party buses taking part.
An estimated 500 LGBTQ+ community groups and businesses took part in the parade, comprising more than 32,000 people, while stages and street acts filled the streets of Soho.
Setting off at midday on Saturday afternoon, London mayor Sadiq Khan was at the front of the parade alongside his wife, Saadiya Khan. The mayor was joined by Andrew Boff, a Conservative London Assembly member, and air quality campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah.
Among the myriad groups represented on the parade were Tesco workers, a marching band who treated crowds to a popular brass version of “Toxic” by Britney Spears, and Ishigaki JuJitsu, the UK’s largest LGBTQ+ martial arts club.
As the parade went down Piccadilly, spectators and participants danced and sang to loud pop music being pumped out of a Heart Radio float.
Mr Khan said in a statement: “I’m delighted that London’s diverse LGBTQI+ communities and allies are once again joining together in the heart of our capital for our world-renowned Pride celebrations and march of solidarity.
“Pride is one of the highlights of my year and it is an honour to have been on every march since I was first elected as mayor in 2016.
“This incredible event is a shining light for LGBTQI+ rights and shows why our city is a beacon for openness and inclusion – a place where you are embraced and celebrated for who you are. Our capital’s LGBTQI+ communities make a huge contribution to life in London.
“There is, however, still work to be done to achieve true equality, and as a proud ally, I’ll continue to stand side by side with our capital’s LGBTQI+ communities as we work to build a better London for all.”
Among those on the march were the group Queers for Palestine, who walked down Piccadilly chanting “There is no pride in genocide”.
The 50-person group held posters accusing Israel of genocide and condemning “pinkwashing” – the accusation that Israel takes a progressive position on gay rights to improve its international reputation.
Also in attendence were a small group of Christian counter-protesters who gathered alongside the Pride parade reciting religious sermons criticising the march.
