In Pictures: Pride parade returns to the streets of London

In Pictures: Pride parade returns to the streets of London

T

The 50th anniversary of the UK’s first Pride parade was marked when the colorful procession returned to the streets of London.

Due to Covid restrictions, the annual event for the past two years has not been held.

Proud decorations in a Routemaster bus before the parade (James Manning / PA) / PA wire
Pride volunteers add rainbow face paint to each other’s faces (James Manning / PA) / PA wire
Md Nabir Uddim (left) and Mohammed Nazir (right) from London before the parade (James Manning / PA) / PA wire

Rafts lined Park Lane ahead of the main march through the capital, led by Gay Liberation Front (GLF) activists.

More than a million people are expected to flock to the city for the parade and accompanying celebrations.

Gloucester Valkyrie Attaches Pride Decorations to a Motorcycle (James Manning / PA) / PA wire
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, speaks to the media (James Manning / PA) / PA wire
Crowd on Park Lane before the parade (James Manning / PA) / PA wire

More than 600 LGBT + community groups are joining the march, which will bypass key areas of the UK’s first LGBT + movement.

As part of what the organizers call the “biggest and most inclusive event in history”, there is a series of artists performing across four stages around central London.

A man waves a Pride flag on Park Lane (James Manning / PA) / PA wire
This year’s parade pays homage to the original 1972 march (Matt Alexander / PA) / PA wire
People in Trafalgar Square take part in the celebrations (James Manning / PA) / PA wire
This is the first Pride parade in London in three years (Matt Alexander / PA) / PA wire