Jubilee - live: Platinum Party at the Palace begins with surprise sketch of the Queen and Paddington
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two eldest children arrive at Cardiff Castle
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The Platinum Party of the Palace has begun with a surprise pre-recorded sketch featuring the Queen and Paddington bear.
Kicking off the performances is Queen + Adam Lambert with a rousing renditon of “We Will Rock You” - with the Queen joining in via teacup.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will miss the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace concert on Saturday evening, as they celebrate their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday “privately” in Windsor.
Other royal family members are attendance of the star-studded performance include the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, the Princess Royal, and others will also be there.
Amongst this weekend’s celebrations, the Queen did not attend the Epsom Derby today after also missing the platinum jubilee thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that her Majesty watched the major sporting event on television at Windsor Castle, after experiencing “discomfort” following a busy first day of festivities on Thursday.
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Duke and Duchess of Cambridge lead tributes to Lilibet’s first birthday
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have led the royal tributes to Lilibet Mountbatten Windsor on her first birthday.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s daughter turns one on Saturday 4 June, on the third day of platinum jubilee celebrations in honour of the infant’s great grandmother, the Queen, whom she was named after.
Read the birthday wishes here:
Prince William and Kate lead tributes to Lilibet on first birthday
The Sussex’s daughter turns one today
Queen watching the derby in ‘comfy clothes’ at Windsor, Zara Tindall says
The Queen will be watching Epsom Derby Day at home in “comfy clothes”, her granddaughter Zara Tindall has said.
The monarch did not attend the major sporting event on Saturday, opting to view it on television from Windsor Castle, where she has been sent a souvenir race card to follow the action.
Zara arrived at the sold-out racecourse in Surrey alongside husband, former rugby player Mike, just before 1pm as part of a procession, which included her mother the Princess Royal and husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and brother Peter Phillips.
She said: “She will be watching on the TV - she has a few runners today dotted around the country, so she knows exactly what’s going on.
“She’ll just be sat on the sofa watching the TV. She’ll be in her comfy clothes.”
Peter was pictured with his girlfriend, who has been named in numerous reports as Lindsay Wallace, despite it being rare for the girlfriend of a member of the royal family to attend a high-profile event.
Crowds cheered and waved union flags as they made their way in to the course, with Anne seen smiling.
She appeared in the royal box while the national anthem was played by a band.
Afterwards, Anne could be seen waving and laughing, while thanking those around her for a warm welcome.
The princess was later given a painting of Dunfermline, the Queen’s winner of The Oaks race in 1977, as a gift to the monarch.
Peter, Zara and Mike could be seen on the balcony of the royal box during the second race of the day, though no celebrations took place after filly Bashkirova claimed victory.
George Ezra can’t believe he is playing at tonight’s Jubilee concert
George Ezra has tweeted ahead of his performance at the Platinum Party at the Palace on Saturday night.
“Here’s something I never imagined myself saying... I’m playing at Buckingham Palace tonight for the Queen’s Jubilee!!” the musician wrote in a tweet.
Corgi-mania as more than 70 of Queen’s favourite dog gather at Balmoral
More than 70 corgis have gathered on the lawn at Balmoral Castle as part of celebrations for the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The dogs, the Queen’s favourite breed, enjoyed a walk in the royal estate with their owners before posing for photos in the grounds.
The event in Aberdeenshire, organised by the Corgi Society of Scotland and the UK Corgi Club, brought together dozens of Cardigan Welsh and Pembroke Welsh corgis.
The Queen has owned more than 30 Corgis and Dorgis - a cross between a corgi and a dachshund - during her reign, most of which have been descended from her first corgi, Susan, who was gifted to her on her 18th birthday in 1944.
Hilary Greensill, a member of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Association, said there was a “fantastic” atmosphere at the event on Saturday afternoon.
She said: “We have been to Balmoral before and with it being the platinum jubilee year, the estate approached us and suggested we might like to come back in the summer time.
“It is a really nice opportunity to showcase the breeds and how much fun they are and help celebrate the platinum jubilee with dogs the Queen is fond of.”
She added: “It has been fantastic, very very jolly and noisy, lots of barking, and lots of fun.
“We have had the most glorious day and the sun has been shining down and that has made everyone really happy.”
PA
‘Does anybody want one of my ‘stuff the jubilee’ badges?'
Although many are celebrating the jubilee, some - such as The Independent’s managing editor Richard Best - are “gobsmacked by the fact that so many working-class people are still buying into this celebration of an anachronistic institution that, for me, cannot be separated from much of what is shameful about our country’s history”.
Read his op-ed about why he won’t be attending any jubilee street parties here:
Opinion: Does anybody want one of my ‘stuff the jubilee’ badges?
I won’t be attending any village fete adorned with union jack flag bunting
Kate Middleton made surprise visit to children’s hospital in London on Friday
The Duchess of Cambridge made an unexpected visit to a children’s hospital in central London on Friday night to meet those who were not able to celebrate the jubilee.
The Evelina Children’s Hospital wrote on Twitter: “We received a very special surprise last night! Our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, dropped in for a private visit to meet our patients, families and staff unable to join in the celebrations this weekend.”
A masked Kate was pictured next to the bed of a young child, who had tubes attached to their face.
Kate has been a patron of Evelina Children’s Hospital since 2018.
It is part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and treats children with complex and rare conditions from birth into adulthood.
Crowds gather in anticipation for Platinum Party at the Palace
Scores of people are gathered outside Buckingham Palace in anticipation for this evening’s Platinum Party at the Palace concert.
Large queues of people waiting to get into the venue have formed.
A couple who have been waiting several hours ahead of the event, David Hitchins and his wife, traveled to the capital from guildford in Surrey.
Hitchins told the PA news agency: “I was gifted two tickets after I raised £25,000 for the NHS. We’re so excited to be here and I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved.”
American Shane, 32, from Austin, Texas, has also been waiting for the concert. He has lived in London for nearly four-and-a-half years.
He told the PA news agency that being in London over the Queen’s jubilee is a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience.
He said: “Being from America this is something totally different - we would never get this. It feels like a country-wide holiday and to have such a sense of community in such a big place, it’s just incredible to embrace this moment.”
WATCH: Crowd sings ‘Sweet Caroline' in front of Buckingham Palace for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The waiting crowd in front of Buckingham Palace have broken into song as they wait for the concert to start.
Watch the video below to hear their rendition of “Sweet Caroline”.
What time does the Platinum Jubilee concert start and how can I watch it?
The big Platinum Party at the Palace concert is nearly here.
Tom Murray has all the details on what time it starts and how you can watch it:
How to watch the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert
Diana Ross, Alicia Keys, and George Ezra are among those performing
All the patriotic outfits worn by members of the public at Buckingham Palace
Royal fans have arrived at Buckingham Palace for tonight’s jubilee concert decked out in their most patriotic gear.
Here are some of the loudest, most patriotic looks to get you into the jubilee spirit ahead of the Platinum Party at the Palace:
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