Queen Elizabeth II is hosting 10,000 guests on Sunday for The Patron’s Lunch, capping off a weekend of celebrations for the monarch’s 90th birthday.

This giant street party includes members from more than 600 charities and organizations affiliated with the Queen.

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All photos courtesy AP

The Queen made a short speech Sunday morning, thanking those in attendance.

“To everyone here today, and to those holding street parties elsewhere, I would like to say thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you continue to give to me,” she said, calling the “selfless devotion” of the charities she supports exemplary.

“I hope that these happy celebrations will remind us of the many benefits that can flow when people come together for a common purpose as families, friends or neighbours.”

Queen Elizabeth II at 2016 Patron's Lunch

Royal commentator Richard Berthelsen told CTV News Channel that the lunch is focusing on grassroots organizations that the Queen supports through her royal patronage.

Prince William opened up Sunday’s festivities by thanking supporters for their presence as well as his cousin, Peter Phillips, for his hard work in organizing the event.

“Thank you so much for showing that the great British public doesn’t let a little rain spoil a good day out,” he said, noting the rainy start to the lunch. “It means so much to see everybody here today.

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This year’s event is the first of its kind, Berthelsen said.

The Patron’s Lunch website said the celebration is intended to recognize the “unrelenting support and service our Monarch has given to the community over her (64)-year reign… It is this commitment to helping others that is cause for a National and Commonwealth-wide celebration, with the very people she has helped over the decades being at the centre of this event.”

Members of the general public are also watching the festivities on large screens located in the Royal Parks, Green Park and St. James Park.

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Controversy over ticket prices

Tickets to The Patron’s Lunch were distrusted to charities around the world, but these organizations had to purchase each ticket for about $270.

“To charge (volunteers) to come to lunch was seen by some as maybe not appropriate,” Berthelsen said.

But, he explained, the event is not a state function and had to be funded by participants themselves.

“The difficulty is that this is a new event, it’s a creative idea…and there are sometimes some growing pains in that,” he said.

The Royal Family has been posting photos to its Twitter page throughout the day of the lunch.