TOP: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives for an event with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the Caledonian Club in London on Thursday. ABOVE: Royal souvenirs on sale in central London on Friday. AFP

The patriotic bunting is ready, the golden carriage on standby, the boats freshly painted, the shops filled with royals souvenirs.

The normal ebb and flow of British life gives way in the next four days to a series of street parties, flotillas, outdoor concerts and finally the appearance of an elderly great-grandmother on her balcony to wave to her subjects.

The pageantry is very grand and very British. But at the heart of the Diamond Jubilee celebration is a nearly universal sense of appreciation for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who is marking 60 years on the throne.

The queen was a vibrant young woman of 25 when she became the head of state of a faltering post-war nation. Today at 86 she remains strong of heart and stout of spirit, refusing to let age slow her pace or dim her smile, which if anything has grown more welcoming over the years.

Related readings:  A queen of embroidery creates a royal portrait As Britain gears up to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, one Chinese artist, known as the "queen of Su embroidery", is also jubilant.

Winston Churchill was prime minister when she became queen, and David Cameron, who wasn't even born then, is Britain's leader now. Elizabeth herself has no political role. But her royal mystique, the centuries of history she embodies and her own discreet charisma help define the very idea of Britain for the world.

Alan Watson, a member of the House of Lords who has written a book about the queen, said the jubilee is a joyous occasion for many Britons who see the queen as a symbol of stability.

"These 60 years have been years of really dramatic change in the UK. The tectonic plates have moved," he said.

"The country has lost its empire and is no longer in the front rank of power, and I really think that change has been enormously eased by her and what she represents. My feeling is she has enabled change by her reassurance of essential continuity."

When Lord Watson joined the queen at a rain-soaked tree-planting ceremony in Richmond several weeks ago, he said he was struck by her buoyant mood as the Jubilee approached.

"I got the clear feeling that she is really enjoying things," he said. "It was pouring rain, but she really looked radiant, a happy person. I think she feels very content in herself. I think she is satisfied with how the reign has gone."

Elizabeth has weathered shaky times with her children, whose marriages have tended to break apart, and her popularity suffered after the 1997 death of Princess Diana, with some finding her response to the tragedy to be cold and out of touch with public sentiment.