The Royal Family have issued a message as London is getting ready to host its annual Pride Parade on Saturday, July 5.
More than one million people are expected to attend the procession today that will see revellers travel from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall Place.
“Happy Pride!” the Royal Family wrote in a social media post alongside a rainbow and sparkle emoji.
They accompanied the message with a special performance by The Coldstream Guards on the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
The Royal Family have issued a message to mark Pride as the London pride parade is about to set off
Getty
The iconic guards were seen playing a royal rendition of Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club.
Today’s parade will feature 35,000 participants representing 500 different groups, including LGBT community organisations, businesses and partners marching through the capital’s streets.
The massive procession begins at midday and will continue till 7pm as it makes its way across multiple stages throughout central London.
Revellers will set off from Green Park near Hyde Park Corner tube station, travelling along Piccadilly towards Piccadilly Circus before heading south down Haymarket.
A video of The Coldstream Guards performing Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club was shared by the Royal Family
Instagram: @TheRoyalFamily
It will pass Trafalgar Square and continue down Whitehall, finishing outside Big Ben at approximately 6pm.
Grammy-winning artist Chaka Khan will headline this year’s celebrations, performing on one of six stages positioned throughout central London.
Other performers include Titanique’s Lauren Drew, Frankie Grande and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star La Voix.
Significant transport disruptions are affecting travel to the event, with the entire Metropolitan line closed today.
Multiple road closures are in place throughout central London, with buses either diverted or services cut short.
Transport for London advises parade participants to arrive at either Marble Arch or Bond Street tube stations.
Spectators have more options, with Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Waterloo or Embankment all recommended as arrival points.
More than one million people are expected to descend on the capital for Pride on Saturday
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Despite the massive turnout expected today, Pride events across the UK face an uncertain future due to declining funding and reduced volunteer numbers.
More than 85 Pride organisations have reported a reduction in corporate sponsorships or partnerships, according to a questionnaire by the UK Pride Organisers Network.
Some celebrations have already been cancelled or postponed, whilst others are scaling back plans or introducing charges for previously free events.
The funding crisis threatens the sustainability of Pride celebrations nationwide, even as London’s event continues to attract over one million attendees.
Princess Martha Louise’s daughter, Maud Angelica Behn, has come out as bisexual
Instagram: maud_angelica_behn / iam_marthalouise
Today’s message from the Royal Family’s comes as a Maud Angelica Behn became the first member of the Norwegian royal family to publicly come out as queer.
The 22-year-old, the eldest daughter of Princess Martha Louise and granddaughter of King Harald V, announced the news on Instagram following her attendance at Oslo Pride over the weekend.
“Happy Pride from a bisexual person! This year’s Pride was absolutely amazing and there was so much love,” she wrote alongside pics of her holding rainbow Pride flag and the bisexual flag
Princess Martha Louise, who also attended the parade, shared images of the two together and issued a supportive message.
