Queen's coronation party begins amid royal baby watch

• The show must go on at%2C so the royal family gathers at Buckingham Palace
• The festival showcases British design%2C technology and entertainment
• The royal baby watch continues

The royal show must go on.

The wait for the royal baby continues at a London hospital today, but Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family went on with opening the Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 60th anniversary of her crowning.

The queen, dressed in a blue-and-white flowery patterned dress and white gloves despite the warm sun, arrived by golf cart for a royal preview of the festivities in the grounds of her London palace, accompanied by her son, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Also there today were Princess Anne and grandchildren Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, but not the queen's husband, Prince Philip, who is still recovering from abdominal surgery, nor Prince William and Duchess Kate, who is due to give birth to the queen's third great-grandchild any day now.

Among the sights the queen viewed today were fancy British cars by Jaguar Land Rover in a display of royal heritage cars, current models and concept cars.

The festival, which runs through Sunday and will be open to the public starting Friday, will showcase British design, technology, entertainment and food and drink. It is hosted by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, the British vendors who provide goods or services to the households of the queen, Prince Philip or Prince Charles.

During the day, the palace gardens will feature a catwalk surrounded by a bed of flowers for a series of fashion shows charting the history of British style. Evening entertainment galas are scheduled for every night of the festival.

Then-Princess Elizabeth became queen in February 1952 when her father, George VI, died. She was crowned in the ancient coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in July 1953. The festival is designed to celebrate that day by celebrating British innovation, excellence and industry.