By Lucy Marks & Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters – Millions watched the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations in London to remember Queen Elizabeth’s 70 year tenure as British king. But for the monarchy, these four-day celebrations were also about looking forward.

Parades and parties outside Buckingham Palace, as well as a Service of Thanksgiving in London are just a few of the many ways that Britain has paid respects to the 96-year old who reigned for more than 1,000 years.

The queen could not attend most of the Jubilee events as she was suffering from health problems. Instead, celebrations of her reign focused on her son Prince Charles (and his son William) and their next monarchs.

Robert Lacey (royal biographer and historical consultant for Netflix, NASDAQ:),’s immensely popular TV drama “The Crown”) said that the queen was setting the foundation for the future.

He told Reuters that the Jubilee held a dual significance. He said that while it was an occasion to celebrate the Queen, and her legacy, the Jubilee also served as a platform for the creation of a new pattern and formula for the future.

Because of her “episodic mobility issues”, the palace says the queen has missed most Jubilee events. These problems have caused her to miss public appearances and highlighted her advanced years.

Charles, her son, and heir, was absent. William, his second son, has been in the forefront.

On Sunday’s memorable finale, the queen was accompanied by three of the next monarchs, William and Charles.

Tina Brown is a journalist who has been a long-time observer of British royalties. She also stated that Elizabeth was focused on her succession.

BBC TV said that her feelings and sentiments are focused on estate planning for Charles. Her only concern right now is for Charles to have a smooth reign and everything should go in his favor.

Brown and Lacey stated that this was the reason the queen announced she would like Charles’s second spouse Camilla to become queen consort on the 70th anniversary of her accession. This removed any doubts about her role.

FLUCTUTING FORTUNES

The monarchy’s fortunes have changed over Elizabeth’s lengthy tenure. There was a dip in 1997 after the tragic death of Princess Diana. But there were highs with the marriage of William’s grandson and Kate and their births.

These three years were particularly difficult for the institution.

The queen’s second-born son, Prince Andrew, was made to quit his public duties by Jeffrey Epstein (a disgraced U.S. financial financier). He also settled a lawsuit against a woman that he had accused of sexually assaulting her as a 17-year old.

While he refuted the allegations and was never accused of criminal wrongdoing, his reputation was destroyed.

William’s brother Harry and Meghan, his American-born wife, have moved to Los Angeles. There they launched bitter attacks against Buckingham Palace.

William stated, “We are very much not racist,”

Although both incidents have tarnished the image of The Firm, as Britain’s royals call themselves, British opinion polls suggest that the damage was primarily done to Andrew and Harry.

PROPORTION

Lacey claimed that the Jubilee has reminded many of the positives that a monarchy can bring, adding: “Charles or Camilla are associated in a manner you would have not thought possible a few decades ago.”

There are some dark clouds ahead despite the many celebrations and plans for tomorrow.

The queen is overwhelmingly popular in Britain, and the older Britons vote in favor of the monarchy. But polls also show young Britons more disinterested and less support for the monarchy in the recent decade.

Harry and Meghan kept their Jubilee profile low, but the prince will soon be releasing a memoir that may contain even more shocking details.

Barbados expelled Elizabeth last November as its head-of-state. There is growing concern that republican sentiments in 14 other countries, which have the British monarch for their queen, will increase.

Australia’s new center-left Labor party, which voted in favour of abolishing the monarchy back in 1999, has appointed the first assistant minister for the republic.

“I don’t know that it will ever be the same when she’s not here any more, that’s how we feel about it (in New Zealand),” said Patricia Burrowes, 80, who travelled from Auckland for the Jubilee celebrations.

Some revellers felt that the monarchy was still an integral part of Britain, even though the role of the queen might be ending.

Ian Higgins, who is a 62-year-old mental health nurse, said, “It’s very easy to make a negative judgment of it and claim it’s not for these times.” It is important to have something that unites people and isn’t just political. This country loves it, as does the rest of the globe.

Charles’s outpouring of love and support after he is made King was not as strong.

Amanda Mackenzie (51) from London, stated, “We will have to wait, and see.” “We will have to wait until we see.”