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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.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.
Queen receives standing ovation at Platinum Jubilee show as the nation salutes her 70 years of service
What’s on the schedule for the platinum jubilee today?
Queen Elizabeth II: What does it mean to be both a human and a national symbol?
What time does the Platinum Jubilee concert start and how can I watch it? 
The longer the Queen lives, the higher the stakes rise on one key question
Who’s your favourite member of the royal family?
Have you voted in our new poll yet?
The Independent is asking our readers which royal family member is their favourite, and we would love to know what you think.
Are you a devoted fan of Her Majesty? A sucker for Kate Middleton’s fashion sense? Find out how to vote here:
Who’s your favourite member of the royal family?
Vote to shape The Independent’s reader-determined ranking of your most popular royals
More than 16,000 street parties planned for platinum jubilee weekend
More than 16,000 street parties are set to take place across England in celebration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee next month.
The 96-year-old monarch will celebrate 70 years on the throne with a four-day weekend of festivities, beginning on 2 June.
The four-day spectacle will include a Platinum Jubilee Pageant, a Platinum Party at the Palace and the Queen’s birthday parade, Trooping the Colour.
Saman Javed has the full report:
More than 16,000 street parties planned for platinum jubilee weekend
Most parties are being held on 5 June during the ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’
Jubilee fund worth £3 million announced to improve 125 village halls
A new £3 million fund to upgrade and renovate England’s village halls has been announced by the Government to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
Over a three-year period, the Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund will provide money for projects such as installing wifi, extending buildings and modernising facilities.
Find out more here:
Jubilee fund worth £3 million announced to improve 125 village halls
A total of 125 halls will receive funding over a three-year period for upgrade and renovation work
What will the weather be like for the platinum jubilee weekend?
The UK is set to bask in sunshine at the start of the weekend but cooler, more unsettled weather will take over ahead of the Jubilee weekend, forecasters have said.
With all eyes on the forecast for the four-day bank holiday, the Met Office said that while there is still “plenty of detail to work out”, a showery start could make way for finer, warmer conditions for the celebrations.
The sunny weather enjoyed by many on Friday is set to last until Saturday for most, according to the Met Office.
Read more here:
Sunny Saturday to give way to mixed weather ahead of Jubilee
All eyes are on the forecast for the four-day bank holiday weekend.
Student designer of Jubilee emblem says seeing it everywhere is a ‘pleasure’
The student who designed the official platinum jubilee emblem has said it is a “pleasure” to see his creation on everything from London buses to chocolate bars and coins.
Graphic design student Edward Roberts, from Southwell, Nottinghamshire, also said he feels “honoured” to have been invited to the official celebrations on the bank holiday weekend.
The 19-year-old’s design was selected as the winning entry in The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Emblem Competition, run by the Victoria & Albert Museum in conjunction with Buckingham Palace.
Read the full report here:
Student designer of Jubilee emblem says seeing it everywhere is a ‘pleasure’
Edward Roberts, 19, won The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Emblem Competition with his entry featuring a stylised crown.
Queen takes Scottish break ahead of platinum jubilee weekend
The Queen has travelled to Balmoral for a short break ahead of platinum jubilee celebrations which begin next week.
The monarch has attended a number of high-profile engagements in recent weeks and it is understood the head of state is now pacing herself before the national events start.
In past years the Queen has usually visited her private Scottish home at the start of the summer and it is understood she arrived at her highland retreat on Thursday.
Read the full report here:
Queen takes Scottish break ahead of platinum jubilee weekend
The head of state normally spends a week at her Highland retreat at the start of the summer
Prince William leads Trooping the Colour rehearsal ahead of bank holiday weekend
The Duke of Cambridge has led a dress rehearsal in London today for the Trooping the Colour parade ahead of next week’s celebrations.
The colour of the Irish Guards will be trooped at this year’s event and Prince William, as Colonel of the Regiment, led the full dress rehearsal at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday.
William, on horseback, oversaw the 90-minute rehearsal for the annual military spectacle which will this year kick off the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations during the long bank holiday weekend.
Laura Hampson has the full report:
Prince William leads Trooping the Colour rehearsal ahead of bank holiday weekend
The Duke of Cambridge will ride on horseback during the platinum jubilee celebrations next weekend
How to get a 6p pint ahead of the platinum jubilee
In case you missed it, Greene King is selling pints at its pubs nationwide for just 6p in the lead-up to the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
On Monday 30 May only, Greene King staff will be pulling pints across its 408 sites at the bargain price, which is the same as an average pint cost during the Queen’s 1952 coronation.
Anyone visiting a Greene King Local Pub or a Flaming Grill site will be able to claim a pint of Greene King’s IPA for just IPA by using the secret code word “1952” at the bar.
Joanna Whitehead has the full story:
This pub chain is serving 6p pints for the platinum jubilee - here’s how to get one
Greene King are offering the bargain pints to mark the start of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations
That’s a wrap of our jubilee coverage today. Please tune in again tomorrow morning for further updates on the Queen and the wider royal family.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments