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
Charles discusses ‘vital process of reconciliation’ in Canada amid calls for apology over indigenous treatment
Prince Charles has pledged to listen and learn from Canadians embarking on a process of reconciliation to “come to terms with the darker and more difficult aspects of the past”.
It comes after the couple faced calls from indigenous communities for the Queen to formally apologise for the treatment of indigenous people in education institutions.
Charles vows to learn from Canadians embarking on process of reconciliation
Canada has been coming to terms with the grim discovery last year of hundreds of human remains in unmarked graves at former church-run schools.
Tube strike action announced for jubilee weekend
Strike action has been announced for the Jubilee long weekend (2-5 June) which could affect the celebrations in the capital.
The RMT Union says its members will walk out of Euston and Green Park stations on Friday 3 June to protest bullying and a “toxic working environment”.
The strikes would last all day on the Friday and affect passengers aiming to travel on the Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly Lines.
Our Deputy Travel Editor Lucy Thackray reports:
Strike action announced for Jubilee long weekend
‘Our strike on 3 June will cause significant disruption to people wishing to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee’ says RMT boss
Crafters to decorate post boxes ahead of Queen’s Jubilee
The UK’s crochet experts have picked up their hooks to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – recreating the monarch and her corgis in miniature to sit on top of post boxes across the country.
Keen crocheters have decorated their communities with bejewelled crowns and googly-eyed versions of the Queen’s Guard to mark her 70 years on the throne.
Crafters to decorate post boxes ahead of Queen’s Jubilee
The decorations can take the creators weeks to complete.
‘My therapist will hear about this’
Everyone is gearing up to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee - but one chip shop’s offering for the royal occasion is... questionable.
Crisp and Fry, a chip shop chain in Wales, posted a TikTok video of its “Jubilee fish and chips”, featuring bright red chips and a blue battered fish, and the response is nothing short of hilarious.
Get the full story here:
TikTokers horrified and amused by blue and red ‘jubilee fish and chips’
The special dish comes ahead of the Queen’s big platinum jubilee weekend in June
Diana Ross to headline Queen’s platinum jubilee concert
The legendary Diana Ross is set to headline the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace concert on Saturday 4 June.
The Ain’t No Mountain High Enough singer’s performance will be one of the main attractions for the event, which will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Diana Ross to headline Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert
The performance will kick-off a series of UK dates for the former Supremes singer, including at Glastonbury
Who is performing at the Platinum Party at the Palace concert?
The BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace concert on Saturday 4 June is gearing up to be a star-studded event, with the likes of Diana Ross, Adam Lambert and George Ezra already lined up to headline the show.
Our Culture Reporter Isobel Lewis has all the details:
Who is performing at the Platinum Party at the Palace concert for the Jubilee?
Live event at Buckingham Palace will feature three stages and an audience of 10,000
Diana’s Spencer Tiara to go on display for Jubilee jewels exhibition
The famous Spencer Tiara, worn by Diana, Princess of Wales on her wedding day, is to go on display as part of the UK’s largest exhibition of tiaras in 20 years.
Some 50 glittering treasures of aristocratic and royal provenance, many seen for the first time in public in decades, will be on view as part of Sotheby’s’ Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Find out more:
Diana’s sparkling Spencer Tiara to go on display for Jubilee jewels exhibition
The princess wore the family heirloom on her wedding day in 198
Take a look back at 70 incredible years of Queen Elizabeth II
The Independent is hosting a free panel discussion on Thursday 19 May at 6.30pm with royal experts Jennie Bond and Sean O’Grady, hosted by our Deputy Lifestyle Editor Laura Hampson.
Follow this link to book your spot on the Zoom session now.
Prince Harry welcomes Colombia and Nigeria to Invictus community
The Duke of Sussex has announced that Colombia and Nigeria are joining his Invictus Games Foundation in a new “community” structure.
Harry founded the Invictus Games to aid the rehabilitation of injured or sick military personnel and veterans from across the globe by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.
More here:
Harry welcomes Colombia and Nigeria to ‘inspiring Invictus community of nations’
More nations are expected to join over time, and participation in future Invictus Games will be drawn from membership of the community.
William pays tribute to ‘resilience’ of submariners
The Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to the “continued resilience” of the Royal Navy’s submariners and their families as he unveiled a new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.
William gave a short speech on the Submarine Service during the unveiling ceremony at the Staffordshire site on Wednesday, in which he said: “You would be hard-pressed to find a more challenging environment to serve in.”
Read the full report here:
William pays tribute to ‘resilience’ of submariners as he unveils new memorial
The Duke of Cambridge gave a short speech at the National Memorial Arboretum on Wednesday.
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