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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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
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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
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s liveblog following all the latest news from the Queen as she prepares for the Platinum Jubilee.
When is the Platinum Jubilee?
The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations are fast approaching, with Britons eagerly anticipating a four-day weekend next month.
The Platinum Jubilee marks Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th year on the throne - an achievement Her Majesty reached on 6 February this year.
The bank holiday weekend will see four days of celebrations, with events including Trooping the Colour, a Platinum Jubilee concert, a pageant, and a Service of Thanksgiving.
The Jubilee celebrations will start on Thursday 2 June and end on Sunday 5 June.
Here’s everything you need to know about when the Jubilee is happening, as well as which members of the royal family will be in attendance:
When is the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?
The monarch will mark 70 years on the throne with a four-day bank holiday weekend in June
Experts to reflect on Queen’s seven decades on the throne
To celebrate the Queen’s 70th year as Britain’s monarch, Laura Hampson will speak to royal experts Jennie Bond and Sean O’Grady about Her Majesty’s most memorable moments, the biggest scandals she has faced, and how she redefined what it means to serve one’s country.
This virtual event will take place on Zoom on Thursday 19 May at 6.30pm.
You can find out more about the event here:
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: A look back at 70 incredible years
Jennie Bond and Sean O’Grady to look back at The Queen’s seven decades on the throne at our virtual event
What events are scheduled to take place for the Platinum Jubilee?
There are several events set to take place over the Platinum Jubilee weekend, including Trooping the Colour, a Service of Thanksgiving, and the Platinum Party at the Palace.
Other events will include the Derby at Epson Downs, a Platinum Jubilee Pageant, and the Platinum Jubilee Beacons.
Kate Ng has the full schedule 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
70 facts about the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee
To celebrate Her Majesty’s milestone, Buckingham Palace has released 70 facts about the Queen to celebrate her seven-decade reign.
From becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history, to her first trip on the London Underground, and details from her wedding to Prince Philip, here are some things you might not know about Queen Elizabeth II.
70 facts about the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee
Her Majesty is celebrating her seven-decade reign this year
Where will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stay during the Platinum Jubilee?
While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have confirmed they will be attending Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations along with their two children next month, one question remains: where will they stay?
Chelsea Ritschel investigates here:
Where will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stay during Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?
Sussexes will attend Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations with their two children in June
Harry, Meghan and Andrew won’t join Queen on Buckingham Palace balcony
In case you missed it, earlier this month Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Andrew, along with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not join other members of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the Trooping the Colour parade.
The monarch’s decision to only include royals carrying out official public duties was taken “after careful consideration”, Buckingham Palace said.
Read the full report here:
The royals who won’t be joining the Queen for Jubilee balcony appearance
Trooping the Colour – the sovereign’s official birthday parade – will kick start the four days of Jubilee festivities on June
Do we get an extra bank holiday in 2022?
The culture secretary Oliver Dowden announced the additional bank holiday in November 2020 and confirmed that the May bank holiday weekend would be moved to Thursday 2 June.
The Platinum Jubilee bank holiday will then take place the following day, on Friday 3 June, resulting in a four-day bank holiday weekend for the nation.
According to the Royal Family’s website, the bank holiday will “provide an opportunity for communities and people throughout the United Kingdom to come together to celebrate the historic milestone”.
Read more here:
Do we get an extra bank holiday for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?
Her Majesty is the longest-reigning monarch in British history after acceding to the throne 70 years ago
Why does the Queen have two birthdays?
The monarch’s birthday is celebrated on her actual date of birth in April, and also later on in the summer with a grand parade by Buckingham Palace.
This year, the Queen’s Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour, will take place on 2 June instead of 11 June to coincide with Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.
So why does the Queen celebrate two birthdays every year? Sabrina Barr has the answer:
Why does the Queen have two birthdays?
The Queen’s ‘official’ birthday is being celebrated this year on Saturday 11 June
What events will the Queen attend on the platinum jubilee weekend?
Despite the Queen’s recent public appearances over the weekend and today, the question of whether the 96-year-old will be fit to attend all the events is still up for debate due to her episodic mobility issues.
So, what events is Her Majesty expected to attend over the bank holiday weekend?
What events will the Queen attend on the platinum jubilee weekend?
Episodic mobility issues have blighted the Queen since the autumn
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