Celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II will start on Thursday in Britain.

This is reported by Reuters.

Millions of people across Britain and around the world are expected to join the celebrations, which begin Thursday, to honor the 96-year-old queen who has reigned longer than any of her predecessors.

Queen Elizabeth thanked everyone involved in her platinum anniversary.

"Thank you to all who participated in convening communities, families, neighbors and friends to celebrate my platinum anniversary in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth," she said.

"I continue to be inspired by the goodwill demonstrated to me, and I hope that the coming days will allow me to reflect on all that has been achieved over the past 70 years as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm," the Queen added.

However, given the monarch's advanced age and recent health problems that have led the queen to cancel participation in some events, Elizabeth's personal participation in the celebrations may be somewhat limited.

The celebrations begin with the Trooping the Color military parade in central London, and for the first time, Elizabeth will receive greetings from 1,500 soldiers and officers from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Other members of the royal family, including son and heir Prince Charles and his eldest son Prince William, will perform other ceremonial duties on her behalf, though much attention will be focused on those not in attendance.

Prince Andrew's second son, Andrew, who settled a U.S. lawsuit in February in which he was accused of sexually abusing a minor, is not expected to attend the celebrations.

The queen's grandson Prince Harry, now living in Los Angeles with his American wife Meghan, will attend the parade but will be absent when the royal family gathers on the palace balcony to watch modern and historic Royal Air Force aircraft fly by after the parade.

Cannon salutes will also be heard at noon in London, across Britain and from Royal Navy ships at sea, and in the evening lighthouses across the country and the Commonwealth will be lit, with the queen leading the lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Lighthouse at Windsor Castle.

Not only does Thursday mark the start of the Jubilee celebration, but it also marks the 69th anniversary of Elizabeth's coronation, who became queen after the death of her father George VI in February 1952.

Polls show that she remains very popular and respected among her subjects, with one poll this week showing that eight out of 10 people view her favorably, and another three-quarters think she has done well as queen.

There will be a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Friday, and on Saturday, members of the royal family will attend a horse race at Epsom Derby.

Later, there will be a concert outside Buckingham Palace featuring the rock band Queen, American R&B singer Alicia Keys and American singer Diana Ross.

Officials estimate there will be more than 16,000 street parties in Britain on Sunday, and the British government says about 600 "Big Jubilee Dinners" will be held in 80 countries from Greenland to New Zealand.