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
Celebrities bring high fashion to Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Celebrities flocked to the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday to show off their high-fashion credentials.
Supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss were spotted smiling and waving from the top of a double-decker bus celebrating the 1990s.
A total of eight buses made their way down The Mall on Sunday, each celebrating a different decade of the Queen’s reign.
Moss wore a black silk slip dress under a vintage John Galliano Union Jack blazer, and accessorised with red Vivienne Westwood stilettos. Meanwhile, Campbell looked understated in strapless Burberry maxi dress.
The Vogue cover stars were joined by iconic makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury and Bridgerton star Dynevor.
Prince Louis steals the show during Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Prince Louis was the gift that kept on giving during the platinum jubilee weekend.
The young royal won the hearts of the public during Thursday’s Trooping the Colour ceremony as he joined his family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The four-year-old was photographed pulling several animated faces, covering his ears and screaming into the air.
The youngest Cambridge child also delivered plenty of meme-worthy moments on Sunday as he watched the Platinum Jubilee Pageant from the royal box.
Louis was spotted covering the Duchess of Cambridge’s mouth, pulling faces at her, and sitting on both the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales.
The funniest and most heart-warming moments from the Queen’s platinum jubilee weekend
The royal family provided plenty of entertainment during this weekend’s festivities.
Prince Louis was on hand to amuse crowds during the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Thursday - images of the four-year-old screaming and pulling faces while watching the Royal Air Forces flypast quickly went viral.
The youngest Cambridge child delivered more meme-worthy content during Sunday’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, pulling faces at his mother and dancing along to the performers.
Separately, the Duchess of Cambridge offered a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law by opting to wear a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted playfully shushing a few royal children during Thursday’s festivities.
Here are our favourite moments from the weekend:
Funniest and most heart-warming moments from the Queen’s platinum jubilee
From Prince Louis stealing the Queen’s limelight to Kate Middleton’s subtle tribute to Princess Diana
Princess Charlotte playfully conducts orchestra in Wales
Princess Charlotte and Prince George joined the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on a visit to Wales on Saturday in honour of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The family visited performers and crew involved in the Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert at Cardiff Castle, where they tried their hands at conducting the orchestra.
Charlotte was seen smiling and giggling at her father as she waved her hands and a makeshift baton.
BBC apologises after Len Goodman recalls nan describing curry powder as ‘foreign muck’ during jubilee coverage
The BBC has issued an apology after Len Goodman recalled his grandmother describing curry powder as “foreign muck”, during its coverage of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations on Sunday.
The former Strictly Come Dancing judge was seen on TV with Masterchef presenter John Torode, sampling jubilee pudding, a lemon and amaretti trifle created by Jemma Melvin.
When asked about his cooking skills, Goodman responded: “No, I’m hopeless, honestly. My wife did Coronation Chicken yesterday for our tea and I’ve never had it before.”
Pulling a face, he added: “I’ve never had curry and curry powder, you know, my nan used to call it all ‘foreign muck’.”
Peony Hirwani has the full story:
BBC apologises after Len Goodman says nan called curry powder ‘foreign muck’
Remark was met with silence from cook Jemma Melvin
Dan Levy reacts to meme comparing George and Charlotte to Schitt’s Creek characters
Dan Levy has reacted to a meme comparing Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the Queen’s Jubilee to his Schitt’s Creek character.
The young royals made several appearances at events across the long weekend, with one photo showing George, eight, and Charlotte, seven, appearing to sneer.
One viral tweet compared the children to David (Levy) and Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy), the spoilt adult children from the hit Canadian sitcom Schitt’s Creek.
“They are them,” comedian Rohita Kadambi wrote while showing the royals and the characters side by side. The post has been liked more than 134,000 times.
Luckily, Levy saw the funny side, simply commenting: “Lol” on the post.
Isobel Lewis has the full story:
Dan Levy reacts to meme comparing George and Charlotte to Schitt’s Creek characters
Viral tweet compared young royals to the spoilt Rose siblings
Meera Syal shows off her dance moves during Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Comedian and actor Meera Syal couldn’t help but join in on Sunday as Bollywood dancers put on a performance during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
Footage of her dancing was shared on Twitter, where it has recieved more than 19,000 likes.
“You hear those drums and you gotta dance…#itsAPunjabiThing,” Syal wrote on Twitter.
Syal was seen sitting next to her husband, Sanjeev Bhaskar, who looked on while his wife danced next to him.
When asked by Twitter users why he had not joined in, Bhaskar joked that he was the evening’s designated driver.
The best royal fashion moments from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend
The Queen’s platinum jubilee served as the perfect opportunity for members of the royal family to showcase their sartorial prowess this weekend.
The most notable fashion moments included the Duchess of Sussex’s belted Dior coat, which she wore to a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s looked chic in a crisp white Alexander McQueen suit at the Trooping the Colour on Thursday.
We’ve charted the best fashion moments from the long weekend. Saman Javed has the full list here:
The best royal fashion moments from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend
The Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Sussex were seen in Dior and Alexander McQueen
How the Buckingham Palace balcony became key to royal family’s existence
The crowd outside Buckingham Palace roared with cheers on Sunday evening as the Queen stepped out on to the royal residence’s balcony.
Marking the conclusion of the long weekend, the Queen stood between Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George, who are first, second and third in line to the throne respectively.
As noted by Professor Pauline MacLaren from the University of London’s Centre for the Study of Modern Monarchy, a royal balcony appearance is “the monarchy at their most visible”.
“But it is also them at their most strategic. Time and again down the years, they have used appearances there – with considerable shrewdness, it has to be said – to emphasise and maintain their place at the heart of the nation,” MacLaren said.
We’ve taken a closer look at the key role the balcony of Buckingham Palace has played throughout the queen’s reign. Colin Drury reports:
Platinum jubilee – how royal balcony became key to monarchy’s existence
It is where the firm is at its ‘most visible but also at its most strategic,’ says one expert, as these six historic moments might suggest...
Prince Louis best moments from the Platinum Jubilee Weekend
From screaming into the air while standing next to Her Majesty, pulling faces at the Duchess of Cambridge, to showing off his dance moves, Prince Louis provided plenty of entertainment this weekend.
We’ve rounded up our favourite moments here:
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments