Royal family news – live: Sussexes release photograph of daughter Lilibet after arriving in US
Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s daughter turns one during her first trip to the UK
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released a picture of their daughter Lilibet after celebrating her first birthday.
The photograph of Lilibet, who celebrated the occasion with family and close friends of the Sussexes at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor on Saturday, is understood to have been taken by family friend Misan Harriman.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s second child, born on 4 June 2021 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.
The couple have been “incredibly touched” by the birthday wishes that have flooded in for Lilibet.
More than 100,000 dollars (£79,800) in donations to the World Central Kitchen were made in her honour by people around the world, for which the Duke and Duchess have also expressed their gratitude.
It follows reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had returned to the US following a short trip to the UK for the jubilee celebrations.
The early departure means the Sussexes missed the finale of the festivities, which saw the Queen make a surprise appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the royal standard flag was raised above the residence during the pageant.
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Thunderstorm fears for Saturday night
The Met Office could issue a thunderstorm weather warning for London on Saturday night as crowds are expected to attend the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace.
Forecasters are predicting heavy, possibly thundery, showers during performances from the likes of Craig David and Alicia Keys outside Buckingham Palace.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: “It’s being monitored but at the moment there’s not enough confidence to issue any warnings, but it’s one that’s going to be reviewed tomorrow morning as to whether or not we do require a thunderstorm warning simply because of the number of people we’re expecting in the capital on Saturday night, so that’s one area of slight concern in terms of weather causing some issues for festivities.”
The weather held out in London today for Trooping the Colour and the flypast.
Here is the full story:
Met Office warns thunderstorms and heavy showers could spoil jubilee celebrations
Foul conditions could mar Craig David concert on Saturday
Harry and Meghan seen in London for jubilee celebrations
Harry and Meghan have been spotted in London during their visit to take part in jubilee events this weekend.
The couple were seen with the Duke of Kent watching the flypast from the Major General’s Office overlooking Horse Guards Parade, and also together in a black car in central London.
Barack Obama pays tribute to Queen
Former President Barack Obama has paid tribute to the Queen in a video message which was broadcasted by the BBC.
The former president reflected on his memories with the Queen during his presidency: “Her Majesty put us at ease with her grace and generosity, so much so that I walked away thinking she actually reminded me a little bit of my grandmother and in the years since I would like to think Her Majesty and I have formed a special relationship of our own.”
Prince Andrew tests positive for Covid
The Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Andrew has tested positive for Covid and will no longer be attending the jubilee service of Thanksgiving for the Queen.
The Duke of York was set to make an appearance at the service on 3 June, which was the only official platinum jubilee event that he was set to attend.
Although Prince Andrew saw the Queen in the last few days, he has been doing regular testing and has not met her in person since testing positive.
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The service at St Paul’s Cathedral was to be the Duke of York’s only appearance at an official platinum jubilee event
Thousands toast jubilee in Trafalgar Square
Crowds have gathered with picnic blankets and bottles of prosecco in Trafalgar Square for the Queen’s jubilee celebrations Thursday morning.
Since gates and access points to the Mall and St James Park were closed off, thousands questioned why the ticket system hadn’t been extended for more people to witness the parade.
“They had TVs here [in Trafalgar Square] for the cricket,” said Veronica Davies. “But they don’t have them for the queen? What’s that about? Outrageous.”
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‘It’s her swan song’: Queen’s Jubilee ‘is moment of unity’ for UK after turbulent times
The Queen’s platinum jubilee is a much-needed “moment of unity” after years of political division, said spectators as royal celebrations got off to a rousing start in London.
Thousands of people draped in Union Jack flags, party hats and plastic tiaras lined the Mall on Thursday to catch a glimpse of the Trooping the Colour parade and military flypast, which kicked off a four-day weekend to mark 70 years since Elizabeth II’s coronation.
Royal appearences at the ceremony included the Queen on the Buckingham Palace balcony, flanked by members of her family - Charles, Camilla and Anne to her right, and the Cambridges to her left - while rapturous cheers of “hooray” erupted from the royal fans watching on below.
Click here for the full story as we speak to royal fans who turned out to the celebrations in London on Thursday.
Britons celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee divided over Harry, Meghan and Andrew’s roles
It may be the Queen’s Jubilee but the attention of some royal watchers was firmly on three other members of the family - Andrew, Harry and Meghan.
For very different reasons, the trio have proved divisive figures in recent years and in the build up to the celebrations there were questions over whether they would attend at all.
None of them made the cut for the all-important ‘balcony moment’ after Trooping the Colour.
The Queen limited that group to the so-called working royals, her Cambridge great-grandchildren and two youngest grandchildren - a move she took after “careful consideration,” the Palace said.
‘The most perfect day'
Princess Eugenie has shared a touching photo of her family waving at the Queen’s platinum jubilee flyover.
Eugenie, 32, is pictured standing with husband Jack Brooksbank, 36, who is holding their one-year-old son August.
The smartly dressed trio are standing on a London rooftop waving to the aircraft, at what appeared to be a jubilee celebration party.
The images posted to Instagram, which include a video of the Red Arrows flying over as cheering can be heard in the background, is captioned: “The most perfect day to celebrate 70 years.”
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