Queen's 90th birthday: Guests at Mall street party left drenched after heavy rainfall

Monarch is 90 years old and it is raining

12,500 ponchos were handed out to guests after organisers banned umbrellas (REUTERS)

Fans of Britain’s monarchy suffered torrential downpours at a picnic lunch held to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, as storm clouds gatecrashed the event in London.

People each paid £150 for tickets to the lunch on the Mall and passed through high-security body scanners before taking their seats in the rain at picnic tables set up amid puddles on the road.

Due to security concerns, umbrellas were banned at the event. Organisers handed out thousands of ponchos, before eventually revising the rules to allow “handbag size umbrellas” following frustration as the downpour continued.

The event is the largest street party ever held on the Mall, with an estimated 10,000 guests.

Clare Balding introduced the start of the parade, telling rain-soaked revellers: “You are rocking those ponchos”.

She later suggested everyone take of their ponchos because it looks better on TV and because “it has stopped raining” - while it continued to pour down.

10,000 people flocked to the Mall - the largest street party ever held there (REUTERS)

In nearby St James’s Park, families with picnics sheltered beneath trees to escape the weather as they showed their support for the nonagenarian monarch.

The Queen wore a grim countenance when she was photographed peering out of the windows at Buckingham Palace as rain lashed the guests outside.

The Queen peers out of Buckingham Palace ahead of her appearance on the Mall (PA)

But she later made an appearance on the Mall to greet her supporters during a brief pause in the rain, waving a gloved hand as she stood alongside her husband standing out of the sunroof of the open-top “Queenmobile” Range Rover.

Guests take shelter under a table after the rain becomes too much to endure (Getty)

Speaking to the crowds, the Queen said: “I much appreciate the kindness of all your birthday wishes, and have been delighted and moved by the many cards and messages I have received.”

But she warned: “How I will feel if people are still singing Happy Birthday to me in December remains to be seen.”

Prince William also addressed the crowd of moist monarchists. He said: “Thank you so much for showing that the great British public doesn’t let a little rain spoil a good day out. It means so much to everybody here.”

However, it is not certain his grandfather shared the sentiment. The drizzle appeared to test the Duke of Edinburgh’s patience, who at one point tapped on the roof of the car and gestured to the driver to hurry up.

One family who had travelled to London from Nottingham told the BBC: “We’re having a fabulous time. We love the Queen. Happy birthday.”

Royal Family fans forked out £150 to attend the event (Reuters)

Pamela Mayne and her husband Stephen, had travelled from County Durham to attend the event. According to MailOnline, Mrs Mayne, 60, dressed in a poncho, said: “We couldn't get any wetter.”

She added: “It feels like I'm in a tent in this poncho. It's so British. We're going to enjoy ourselves regardless.”

Early arrivals had a damp reception (Reuters)

Mr Mayne, also 60, was asked whether the tickets to the event were worth the £150. He said: “In the rain, I don't know. Yes if it had been sunny.”

The picnic was organised as a not-for-profit event by Peter Philips, the Queen’s grandson, whose company, Sports and Entertainment Ltd will receive an undisclosed fee for staging the event.