Acknowledging 70 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth II, a massive Platinum Jubilee Celebration took place on June 2-5, 2022. Celebrations included the annual Trooping the Colors Parade, a Royal Gun Salute, the lighting of beacons throughout the country, luncheons, tea parties, a Service of Thanksgiving, and a Derby, among many other festivities. “When it comes to how to mark seventy years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow,” Queen Elizabeth said in a press statement. “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. While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.”

Over the Queen’s 70 year reign, she has seen a tremendous amount of change as modernity has progressed. And while most of the Jubilee events were the traditional spectacles one would expect from the Royal family, the Saturday evening celebrations were a bit livelier and unexpected. The evening began with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert just outside of Buckingham Palace. 22,000 spectators and performers, including Stephen Fry, Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, and Sir Elton John (to name a few), brought a modern feel to a celebratory weekend steeped in tradition. But, it was the closing act that was the most surprising moment of the whole Jubilee celebration.

After spending nearly 6 months secretly planning, SKYMAGIC closed out the Jubilee concert with an epic drone light show. With offices in both the UK and Singapore, SKYMAGIC has become one of the most renowned drone entertainment companies in the world. In May of 2022, SKYMAGIC set a new world record with the largest drone show performed in the Southern Hemisphere. Using 600 drones, images honoring Paramount+ Entertainment were displayed over Sydney Harbor. The drone show was so amazing, that people wondered how SKYMAGIC could ever top it. Well, on Saturday, June 4, 2022, top it they did.

The drone show was entirely top secret. SKYMAGIC rehearsed the performance in a remote location in Northern England. The SKYMAGIC team didn’t even get a chance to stage the show over Buckingham Palace to ensure everything was perfect. But, there was no need, the drone show was flawless. 400 Microdrones with LED lights were used to animate iconic British images such as a stamp with the Queen on it, a teapot pouring tea into a cup, and the Union Jack. Perhaps the most popular image was that of a corgi, one of the Queen’s famously beloved pets, happily smiling down from the top of the palace.

The drone show was a perfect culmination of the Jubilee celebration. Using modern drone technology to entertain with images evocative of the Queen’s entire 70 years of reign was simply brilliant. “I honestly could not believe my eyes as it was happening – it surpassed all expectations by a million miles,” said Kyla Owen, Project Lead for the Platinum Jubilee at Buckingham Palace in a letter of gratitude to SKYMAGIC. “The shapes/images you chose could not have been more perfect and there just aren’t enough superlatives to explain how incredible the display was for all of us watching. It really was one of the highlights of the whole Jubilee weekend. It was such a privilege to be able to watch such artistry and genius in real life.”

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