Notting Hill Carnival is again awash with eccentric outfits as the world’s biggest street festival comes to a colourful climax – but some parade members are not shy of showing a bit of skin.
The streets of west London are packed with people enjoying the Caribbean music and food on a scorching bank holiday Monday, with the mercury soaring to 84F (29C).
And on the main parade day scores of scantily-clad performers are adorned in glitter and feathers, while other revellers have been photographed in the road ‘daggering’ – a Jamaican dance from that combines dry sex and wrestling.
For the second time in two days, the festivities were put on hold to observe a minute’s silence in memory of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire.
Some of the dancers at Notting Hill Carnival were spilling out of their costumes as they paraded through the streets of west London this afternoon
A carnival performer decorated in jewels, glitter and bird feathers poses on the main Parade day of the Notting Hill Carnival on Monday
Another woman in a bikini-style costume basks in the glorious sunlight as she makes her way through the carnival procession
Police arrest a man against a temporary fence during a ‘stop and search’ operation on the main parade day on Monday afternoon
A samba dancer painted in leopard print takes to street to enjoy tropical weather that blessed partygoers at Notting Hill Carnival today
Several festival-goers ‘daggering’ – a Jamaican dance which incorporates, wrestling and other movements
A police officer sits with a group of children on the kerb at the Notting Hill Carnival, keeping them entertained by showing them her baton and hand cuffs
Singer and actor Jason Donovan (right) seen enjyoing himself at Notting Hill Carnival earlier today
More people partaking in daggering as spectators and other members of the parade watch on from the pavement
This performer has decked herself out in bright red, yellow and blue feathers for the biggest street festival in the world
A dancer sips a drink at the start of the parade on the second and final day of the Notting Hill Carnival
A purple-clad dancer sits down to take a break on the pavement in the heat of the day during the parade
Severa women slathered in paint dance to the music as they enjoy themselves at Notting Hill carnival, which saw 155 people arrested yesterday
Police officers happily pose with revellers at the Notting Hill Carnival in London. They will be hoping for a quieter final day than last year
Police officers look through binoculars from a rooftop for any signs of trouble as revellers take part in the Notting Hill Carnival
A man opts for a statue-esque silver body paint as her celebrates at the Notting Hill Carnival in London with thousands of revellers
A woman wearing a sparkly outfit and makeshift wings smiles as the grounds gather on a beautiful bank holiday weekend
Dancers from the Paraiso School of Samba observe their own minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. An official memorial is due to take place at 3pm, as it did yesterday
These revellers, dressed as members of the animal kingdom, are all smiles ahead of Monday’s street party in the west London neighbourhood
This woman in white carries an umbrella above her head as she smiles in the sunshine, with a sign in honour of Grenfell victims visible behind her
At 3pm sound systems stopped blaring and the carnival procession paused for 60 seconds to remember the at least 80 victims of the devastating tower block fire.
Around half a mile away from the charred high-rise, firefighters lined up, removed their helmets and bowed their heads outside North Kensington fire station.
The moment was concluded with a spontaneous round of applause and cheers from the hundreds of thousands of carnivalists celebrating the bank holiday weekend.
The firefighters were then embraced, congratulated and thanked by carnival goers, posing for photos with them.
With 155 arrests made on Sunday – more than double the number on the corresponding day the previous year – police will be hoping for a quieter finale than 12 months ago, when 245 people were detained amid scenes of chaos on the Monday.
And, as of 3.30pm, they appeared to have got their wish with only 27 arrests made by mid-afternoon.
So far this weekend, ten people were detained on suspicion of carrying a blade, 13 for GBH, ABH and assault, a further five for attacking police officers and 17 for public order offences.
The most common crime was drug possession, with 64 arrests for illicit substances, nine for sexual offences, three for criminal damage, six suspected thefts and 17 ‘other offences’.
Metropolitan Police officials said thousands of officers would be on patrol on each day of the event amid the heightened security concerns.
The London Ambulance Service said it had treated 344 patients on Sunday during the first day of carnival – many for alcohol-related injuries.
Jourdan Dunn attends ‘Red Bull Music Academy Soundsystem’ at Notting Hill Carnival
Police help Dancers with a plaster as they prepare for the parade on Monday afternoon
Police conduct another ‘stop and search’ operation on the main Parade day of the Notting Hill Carnival
Several people holding jars and coffee flasks make their way through the tightly-roped parade route, as security guards watch on
Another woman draped in colourful feathers and glitter. The event is expected to attract a million visitors over the Bank holiday weekend
Residents watch on as revellers some zebra-themed dancers make their way down the road during Notting Hill Carnival
More shimmering arrays of blue and pink on display from these two women as they get into the party atmosphere
Dancers in costume dance behind their float at the Notting Hill Carnival – the annual event on the streets of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea over the August bank holiday weekend
A line of police officers walk past as revellers take part in the Notting Hill Carnival some
A view down the crowded street highlights the sheer number of people that flock to Notting Hill to sample the music and food
A man dressed in a Union Jack-themed outfit stands next to another glamorously-dressed member of the parade
More members of the procession re-adjust their costumes to make sure they look the part before they get involved
Despite the party atmosphere, procession members observed their own minutes silence in memory of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire
Revellers are descending on the colourful climax of Notting Hill Carnival. Drumers are seen here making their way through the streets early this morning
Make some noise for the undercover raver! Revellers give it up for BGT dancing policeman PC Graham throwing some moves at Notting Hill
A dancing police officer who wowed audiences on Britain’s Got Talent has put on another show-stopping performance — right in the middle of Notting Hill Carnival.
PC Daniel Graham delighted carnival-goers at the west London festival with his incredible moves, where he was on duty yesterday.
The dancing policeman was even told ‘you must be an undercover raver’ while manning barriers at the carnival yesterday.
In a video of PC Graham’s crowd-please performance, the MC is heard saying: ‘He’s not feds, he ain’t police, you must be an undercover raver!’
The brilliant video shows PC Daniel Graham delighted carnival-goers at the west London festival with his incredible moves, where he was on duty yesterday
In a video of PC Graham’s crowd-please performance, the MC is heard saying: ‘He’s not feds, he ain’t police, you must be an undercover raver!’
An arresting sight: Britain’s Got Talent’s dancing policeman Daniel Graham when he appeared on the show earlier this year
The PC – who failed to get through to the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in May – wowed audiences with his moves throughout the year’s series
PC Graham then pats the ID badge to confirm his identity before signalling for the volume to be turned up.
At least 80 carnival-goers are thought to have been hypnotised by the spectacle.
‘He really lit the ground up … he turned it up big time,’ Phemmy Nice, who filmed PC Graham’s performance, told the Evening Standard.
He added: ‘I believe the police are human, so the joy of free mind and socialising should be expressed whenever.’
The PC – who failed to get through to the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in May – wowed audiences with his moves throughout the year’s series.
He is now using the skills to entertain the masses once again at Notting Hill Carnival, where dozens of spectators watched on as he threw some moves
‘He really lit the ground up … he turned it up big time,’ said Phemmy Nice, who filmed PC Graham’s performance, told the Evening Standard
Police officers pass performers during the second and final day of the Notting Hill Carnival in west London. 155 arrests were made yesterday by officers
A man and a woman draped in white robes at the front of the procession hold up a giant umbrella as the drummers march on behind them
Two colourfully-dressed performers walk passed a piece of Grenfell Tower-inspired artwork. June’s tragedy has been a heavy theme of this year’s carnival
More drummers perform with a smile on their face as the walk through the sunshine. Today could be the hottest August bank holiday Monday on record
Some dancers decorated with yellow and green feathers go through their final preparations before starting the parade
Partygoers enjoy the sunsine as the streets of Notting Hill begin to fill with guests who have flocked from all over the world for the carnival
Paraiso School of Samba remembers the 80-plus victims who lost their lives in the Grenfell inferno, in the same borough as the carnival takes place in
Samba dancers in colorful costumes arrive as they prepare for a colourful climax to the world’s biggest street festival this morning
The two-day west London festival, taking place in the shadow of the burnt-out Grenfell Tower, will see thousands of police officers on the streets.
Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad gave a speech yesterday morning as the celebration opened with a multi-faith prayer and release of doves in remembrance of the Grenfell victims.
Performers near to the high-rise have been asked to keep their music volume low and walk respectively.
Steel barriers, concrete blocks and weapons checks are some of the measures being used to help protect the world-famous carnival from the threat of a Barcelona-style terror incident as well as acid attacks.
Police said there is no specific counter-terrorism intelligence but security plans had been ‘thoroughly reviewed’ following the attack in the Spanish city earlier this month, in which 15 people died after being hit by a van.
Officers are stationed around the perimeter of the carnival zone, carrying out checks for weapons and corrosive substances, following a controversial three-week crackdown to reduce criminality at the event.
They also plan to use facial recognition technology, which will help the force spot those thought to be likely to cause trouble.
Overall policing numbers will stay the same as last year, with around six to seven thousand officers on duty each day.
A turquoise and purple-themed dancer wearing a very shiny headpiece as she smiles for the camera
Another woman with a flower in her hair during the main procession day of Notting Hill Carnival on Monday
Performers pause to take a selfie and a sip of their cups in the Underground station on their way to the carnival
A reveller proudly shows off her shiny outfit to the camera as fellow performers get ready behind her
Another carnival-goer shows her support for the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster, which took place not far from the event
Two dancers dressed in pink walking across the streets of west London to reach the start of the parade route, which will be filled in a number of hours
This dancer has to have some last-minute alterations to have costume to make sure it is perfect for the big day
Juliana Campos and her nine-year-old daughter Bella perform in their glittery outfits as they wait for the action to get underway
Some tartan-clad performers make their way to the start of the parade on the second and final day of the Notting Hill Carnival
Hundreds of hand-drawn tributes, flowers and candles laid in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire will be protected by fencing, while a ‘ring of care’ will be formed around the tower by police officers to protect the Lancaster West estate from the hundreds of thousands of passing carnival-goers.
Ms Dent Coad, who has said the carnival is needed this year more than ever, will give a speech on Sunday morning as the celebration opens with a multi-faith prayer and release of doves in remembrance of the dead.
But somber overtones have failed to cloud the carnival atmosphere — as one Sky News reporter found out all too well yesterday.
Journalist Joe Tidy was playfully ambushed when reporting from the London festival at around 8am.
He described festival-goers’ moods as ‘fantastic’ before spotting revellers carrying paint.
He joked: ‘Hold up, I’ve been waiting for this!’ before he was slathered in colourful paint.’
Performers passing the blackened high-rise have been encouraged to lower their music volume and walk respectfully in memory of those who died in the inferno.
This dancer is a glimmering pink as she dances extravagantly during the Notting Hill Carnival on Monday afternoon
Dancers perform during the second and final day of the Notting Hill Carnival in west London
Dancers throw their arms up in the air underneath a glorious August sky without a cloud in it
A woman twirls her cape during the parade as mesmerised crowds watch on from behind the safety lines
Two women dressed in eccentric outfits walk down the streets of Notting Hill as stallholders get their areas set up in the background
Samba dancers travelling on the London Underground in their colorful costumes as they make their way to Notting Hill for the carnival
Two revellers walk down the street with some early morning refreshments as festivities got underway early on bank holiday Monday
Some chicken is cooked at one of the many Caribbean food stalls that run all over the carnival site
Samba dancers dressed in their colorful costumes prepare for the carnival parade earlier on day two, as the crowds in the street begin to grow
Organisers are encouraging attendees to wear or accessorise in ‘green for Grenfell’ in a display of ‘reverence and respect amidst the revelry’.
There will be a reflection zone near the tower and posters have been put up asking the public not to take photographs ‘at the site of our great loss’ – an activity which has distressed locals since the fire two months ago.
Police said a dedicated area would be put in place for people to leave tributes without obstructing the carnival flow.
The carnival is getting underway after the Met Police defended a series of raids carried out in the run-up to the event.
In three-week crackdown by officers, more than 600 people were arrested and large numbers of knives, guns, weapons, drugs and money seized.
The Met also tweeted and image of what they say was a kilogram of uncut heroin found in Catford, southeast London.