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?
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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
Beacon lit in Pakistan
As the Queen lit the principal beacon at Windsor Castle, an expected 2,000 beacons were lit concurrently around the globe.
Here is the one in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan:
Tree of Trees lit up outside Buckingham Palace
The principal beacon lit by the Queen at Windsor sparked thousands around the globe, none more spectacular than the Tree of Trees outside Buckingham Palace in London.
Prince William was at the lighting ceremony to represent the royal family.
Commentators are saying the tree emphasises the royal family’s environmental bent.
An image of the Queen was projected onto Buckingham Palace ahead of the beacon lighting ceremony as crowds looked on from The Mall.
Bidens pay tribute to Queen on platinum jubilee
Joe and Jill Biden have offered their congratulations to the Queen on her platinum jubilee.
The US president said she had inspired people with her “selfless devotion and service” to the UK and the Commonwealth for 70 years.
“Throughout your reign, the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States has grown stronger and closer than ever,” he said.
Mrs Biden said the joy the monarch had brought the American people through her visits to the US, together with the solidarity she had shown in times of tragedy, had “deepened the friendship and profound connection between our countries”.
“Joe and I were so touched by the generosity and welcome you showed to us when we visited you at Windsor Castle last year, during our first visit overseas as president and first lady,” she said.
Beacons light up Northern Ireland for platinum jubilee
Beacons were lit in towns and cities across Northern Ireland after the Queen sparked the principal beacon at Windsor.
Sites included Titanic Belfast and St Columb’s Cathedral in Londonderry.
Further beacons were lit nearby at Castle Island, Topped Mountain and the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
Trafficking victim speaks of ‘hope’ Queen’s beacon represents
A Zambian woman who was trafficked by her own father has spoken of the “surreal” experience of lighting the UK’s first Platinum Jubilee beacon.
Alina Karimamusama, who works with the Queen‘s Commonwealth Trust, ignited the large brazier at Coutts bank in central London.
Known as the Queen‘s Bank because it has served every monarch since George IV, it hosted a party for the event with guests including broadcaster Andrew Marr.
More than 2,000 beacons will be lit across the UK and the Commonwealth, in what Ms Karimamusama said was a mark of “hope”.
“It represents the possibilities that young people from communities like mine, young people like me, can reach when they are given the right support,” she said.
Beacons are traditionally lit for royal occasions, having previously been used to mark the silver, golden and diamond jubilees of the Queen, along with Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
Away from the balcony photo
More images of members of the royal family away from the palace balcony:
Key workers and volunteers to attend thanksgiving service
Key workers, charity volunteers and members of the armed forces have been invited to the Queen’s service of thanksgiving in recognition of their contribution to public life.
More than 400 people, who have been making a difference either nationally or locally, are among the guests and many have been working tirelessly during the pandemic.
They will join members of the royal family at St Paul’s Cathedral to celebrate the monarch’s 70-year reign, although the Queen herself will not attend after experiencing “some discomfort” following previous mobility issues.
Senior members of the monarchy attending include the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who will be joined by the extended royal family.
Charles will officially represent the Queen at the service.
Those invited in recognition of their service have all been recipients of honours in the New Year or Birthday Honours lists and their number also includes public servants and representatives from social enterprises and voluntary groups.
How the Queen has remained popular over 70 years
She is loved and respected thanks to her dedication to duty, but despite his best efforts, the Prince of Wales still does not command the kind of popularity that his mother has enjoyed. Emma Mackenzie looks at the Queen’s unique popularity:
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
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