THE Royal Family and almost a billion people across the world watched the Queen's Jubilee Pageant - and now a small part of it is coming home to the Isle of Wight.

The Island's very own Shademakers UK paraded in front of Buckingham Palace as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations yesterday (Sunday).

Artistic director, Paul McLaren’s vision of The Queen’s Beasts was brought to life with 250 performers and musicians in the most incredible kinetic costumes, which saw a menagerie of beasts parading the streets in a once in a lifetime experience. 

Now, Shademakers UK has announced they will be bringing The Queen’s Beasts spectacle to the streets of the Island at three carnivals this summer - in Newport, Sandown and Ryde's main parades.   

Isle of Wight County Press: Joe Plumb in the Queen's Jubilee Pageant. Picture: Jubilee Pageant/Press Association,Joe Plumb in the Queen's Jubilee Pageant. Picture: Jubilee Pageant/Press Association,

Speaking after the London event, Paul said: “We Elizabethans have emerged from a pandemic at the closing years of a Queen's reign.

"The world we now face is a very different one from that of her beginning. In time to come we will look back at this moment in time as the birth of a new age, of new expectations and hope and at its core, the energy and creativity and hope of a brave new world.”

Jane Johnson, a unicorn performer, said: “Performing in the pageant was an incredible experience but the emotion I felt walk through Admiralty Arch and down The Mall was on another level.”

Amber Sheaff, a swan performer, said: "This was my first ever carnival experience and it was incredible. I loved waving at the children and seeing their reactions to all the costumes and how energetic the crowd was. I really was a once in a lifetime experience."

Isle of Wight County Press: Paul McLaren – Shademakers artistic director – putting the finishing touches on a hare costume.Paul McLaren – Shademakers artistic director – putting the finishing touches on a hare costume.

Paddy McHugh, steward and an organiser of Newport Carnival, said: “I was so grateful, honoured and humbled to have played a small part in this creation. The whole team are all amazing and we cannot wait to bring The Queen’s Beasts to Newport’s Centenary Carnival this summer!”