How very British: Picnics in the rain for Queen's birthday

Thousands of revellers celebrating the Queen turning 90 were thankful for their ponchos as storm clouds gatecrashed The Patron's Lunch.

See also: Top ten British picnic spots for summer

With umbrellas banned on site, the 12,500 ponchos handed out by officials were put to good use as heavy and thundery showers hit the street party on The Mall on Sunday afternoon.

But the weather didn't put a dampener on spirits as ticket holders tucked into wicker baskets filled with a picnic lunch and afternoon tea.

Among the treats was a can of Pimm's and lemonade, mini piccalilli pork pie, a selection of sandwiches, a "posh raspberry royale" dessert and two cupcakes.

Tickets cost £150 and the hampers – provided by Marks & Spencer – also contain a turquoise plastic plate, a matching set of plastic cutlery, a plastic wine tumbler and a napkin, as well as a 500ml bottle of M&S Scottish Spring Water and some apple juice.

Six bars, eight ice cream stops, six tea points and eight toilet blocks were stationed along The Mall to serve the 10,000 revellers, as well as a merchandise shop and other facilities.

Some 5,000 jugs of Pimm's were expected to be consumed – which, judging by some of the photographs, was probably accurate.

The Duke of Cambridge thanked the guests for not letting "a little rain spoil a good day out" and praised his "granny" as someone "we all look up to in good times and in challenging moments to set an example".

The Queen, in response, made the crowds laugh when she joked about future renditions of Happy Birthday: "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.

"How I will feel if people are still singing Happy Birthday to me in December remains to be seen."