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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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
Culture minister urges councils to show ‘a little bit of flexibility’ for late street party applications
A culture minister has urged councils to show “a little bit of flexibility” when it comes to issuing licenses for street parties to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
Chris Philp was asked on Sky News about councils warning the public against hosting unauthorised platinum jubilee street celebrations.
Philp said: “I think it is fantastic we are celebrating the Queen’s jubilee, and I would just say to local councils around the country, including mine in Croydon, if you do get a late application, and maybe the deadline has technically passed, I would just say to the councils to show a little bit of flexibility, show a little bit of willingness to accommodate people.
“And if you are at all able to, you know, please do grant these requests, even if they are maybe technically after the deadline.”
PA
The Queen’s popularity is her greatest asset — so what will the firm do once she’s gone?
With the Queen’s approval ratings consistently at levels politicians could only ever dream of, we’ve taken a closer look at how the monarch has remained so beloved for 70 years.
Emma Mackenzie has the details:
The Queen’s popularity is her greatest asset — so what will happen once she’s gone?
With the Queen’s approval ratings consistently at levels politicians could only ever dream of, Emma Mackenzie details how the monarch has remained so beloved for 70 years
The number of women working past 50 has increased during Queen’s reign
The number of women aged 50 and over either in work or looking for jobs has increased by millions in the 70 years since the Queen has been on the throne, according to new research.
While there were 1.3 million women in the age group working or looking for employment in 1952, the figure has increased to 5.1 million now, researchers at Rest Less said.
Read the full story here:
Number of women working past 50 shows big increase during Queen’s reign
5.1 million women aged 50 and over are either currently working or looking for employment.
Jubilee bank holiday tube strike has been cancelled
A planned strike at two London Underground stations over the Jubilee bank holiday has been cancelled.
Around 80 staff at Euston and Green Park were due to stage a walkout on Friday 3 June, causing the stations to potentially shut over the busy long weekend.
But the industrial action has been halted following successful talks between the RMT union and London Underground chiefs.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m pleased that the RMT has suspended their industrial action on 3 June. This good news ensures everyone will be able to make the most of the events in the capital throughout the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrating Her Majesty’s service to our country.
“This demonstrates the importance of unions working with employers to find solutions. I hope TfL and the RMT can continue to work together on the issues raised.”
Helen Coffey has the details:
Jubilee bank holiday tube strike cancelled
Walkout suspended after talks between TfL and union progress
Boris Johnson shares tribute to the Queen
Boris Johnson has called on the British public to “rejoice” and celebrate the “love, devotion and leadership” of the Queen, describing Her Majesty as “Elizabeth the Great”.
Sunny spells and warm temperatures set for bank holiday weekend
It’s good news for those planning street parties and other outdoor events, with the Met Office predicting that there will be “sunny spells” and warmer temperatures.
The unsettled and unseasonably cool start to the week – with some areas seeing below-freezing temperatures on Monday morning – will gradually give way to drier, brighter and warmer weather in time for the long weekend.
Met Office meteorologist Richard Miles told the PA: “It’s fine and dry rather than major sunshine, but good sunny spells. Most people should see a bit of sunshine.”
Miles said those planning to be outdoors should be prepared for all weather eventualities.
“You’d be unlucky if you had to use the umbrella, but take one just in case, because you can never know. You’re more likely to need the sunglasses than the umbrella,” he added.
Most of the UK will enjoy fine and dry conditions with sunny spells on Thursday and Friday, with some areas basking in “plenty of sunshine”, the Met Office said. However, those in central and northern England could see some rain.
“On Saturday and Sunday it’s looking quite settled, with most places seeing quite a bit of fine and dry weather again, with a risk of showers this time in the south east and east coast, maybe,” Miles said.
“It’s looking OK; good dry weather with some sunny spells.”
PA
Which events will Harry and Meghan attend?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to return to the UK this week with their children, Archie and Lilibet, to attend the celebrations.
It will mark the first time the Sussex family has returned to the UK since Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020.
While the Sussexes have not confirmed their schedule for the weekend, Saman Javed has the lowdown on everything we know about their visit so far and the events they will reportedly attend:
Queen’s platinum jubilee: Which events will Harry and Meghan attend?
The couple have confirmed they will return to the UK for the celebrations
Treat yourself to a 6p pint today
In celebration of the longest reign in British history, one of the UK’s biggest pub chains is offering pints of its IPA beer for just 6p.
For today 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 details here:
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
How to make the official platinum jubilee pudding
A lemon and amaretti Swiss roll trifle is the official pudding for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee after beating thousands of entries in a competition to find a new royal dessert.
Created by Jemma Melvin, a copywriter from Southport, the dessert takes inspiration from the lemon posset served at the Queen’s 1947 wedding to Prince Philip.
The trifle is made with layers of lemon curd and custard, St Clement’s jelly, a mandarin coulis made with tinned mandarins, amaretti biscuits, whipped cream and finished with a jewelled chocolate bark.
Fancy making your own? Joanna Whitehead has the full recipe here:
How to make the lemon trifle crowned Platinum Pudding for the Queen’s Jubilee
Baking for queen and country
What events are scheduled to take place this bank holiday weekend?
The Queen is set to celebrate her historic reign with a four-day spectacle, including a Platinum Jubilee Pageant, a party at Buckingham Palace and her birthday parade, Trooping the Colour.
Kate Ng has the full details here:
What events are scheduled during the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday?
A special extended bank holiday weekend will mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne
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