Meet the Perth woman performing at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pageant

queen elizabethit is Platinum Jubilee the celebrations are in their fourth and last day.

But for an Aussie, they certainly saved the best for last.

Perth daughter Blandine Blanchard will perform in ‘The People’s Pageant’ as she takes the Queen’s coronation route through London.

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He will cover the two mile route from Whitehall, to the Mall to Buckingham Palace and that is something that blows the 28-year-old away.

“There’s a crazy amount of respect for the Queen, like everyone says ‘oh I hope she sees it’, ‘is she coming?’ that’s the dialogue we all hear among the workers, even the performers,” Blanchard told 9Honey.

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“When you practice, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, I wonder if she can see this from her balcony?’ People ask ‘what will it look like from afar?’

“It’s incredibly nice to hear that because we’re very proud [in our work] and especially with young people who may not be as experienced as the other artists, they really give their all to make sure they’re on top of their routine and that they’ll be in tune with all the other artists – it’s kind of nice to see, it’s definitely unusual.

“I think she’ll definitely have a good show, Queen, if she sticks her head out,” she laughs.

There are rumors the Queen will stick her head out, with reports of a second appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to close out the Jubilee celebrations after the pageant.

And despite having lived in the UK for eight years, it’s a prospect that has this Aussie next to her.

“It would be the first time I’ve seen her in the flesh — I’ve always seen them walk past … but to see her on her balcony would be crazy,” Blanchard told 9Honey.

“I would definitely call my family to say I’ve actually seen her – not saying she’s leaving soon, but I feel like this might be one of the last big hoo-has.”

Blanchard, who has worked with Mahogany Carnival Arts for five years, has already participated in several major parades, including the huge Notting Hill Carnival in London.

However, she says the feeling is definitely different for this one.

“I think when we do Notting Hill we always think of our own little borough or kind of a little suburb when it’s a whole nation in that sense [and] it’s going to be broadcast around the world,” she says of the contest, which is expected to be watched by a billion people worldwide.

“It’s much deeper in its meaning,” adds Blanchard, not only highlighting the historical value of the Queen’s Jubilee, but the first time performers have really come together en masse since 2019.

“I think in many ways we’ve been through so much over the last few years, it’s just an honor to celebrate an achievement, you know.”

Before the big day, Blanchard has been busy making costumes and painting full-scale bamboo skirts, but on the day itself, the artist will transform into a performer…and a giraffe.

“[It’s] quite unusual,” she laughs.

“And certainly something that I don’t think the Queen would expect to see, but it will be a fanciful giraffe – they’ll have little top hats, little glasses, they’ll dress up for the special occasion. “

The specially constructed costume will stand over two meters tall and is made with fiberglass rods, so it’s light enough for performers to wear for hours at a time.

“[It] has a bit of a hook system that makes her head move so she looks like she’s really alive and those heads are huge – maybe not life scale of a normal giraffe head, maybe a bit more cartoony and puffy but nonetheless, it can be seen above the crowds.”

So while you watch the show, be sure to keep an eye out for this Australian giraffe.

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