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
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
Which platinum jubilee events will Harry and Meghan attend?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed they will be visiting the UK for the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations next month, along with their two children, Archie, 3, and baby daughter Lilibet.
It will mark the first time the Sussexes have returned to the UK with their children since they stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020.
Saman Javed has all the answers to your questions about which events they will be attending:
Queen’s platinum jubilee: Which events will Harry and Meghan attend?
The couple have confirmed they will return to the UK for the celebrations
How is the Queen celebrating her platinum jubilee and who will join?
On Thursday 2 June, the Queen will celebrate her “official” birthday with a military parade. The annual celebration, known as Trooping the Colour, is held on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace.
The event will also include an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace from members of the royal family.
Saman Javed has everything you need to know about this year’s Trooping the Colour:
Trooping the Colour 2022: How is the Queen celebrating and who will join?
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the celebrations
The best films and TV series about Queen Elizabeth II to watch on Netflix
From Oscar-winning biopics to TV documentaries, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to depictions of HRH on screen.
Our Culture Reporter Louis Chilton has listed a handful of the best – and a couple of less conventional picks for any republicans out there looking for some alternative Jubilee messaging.
How old was Her Majesty when she became the Queen?
The platinum jubilee is a chance to reflect on the past 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the longest of any British monarch in history.
But when was the Queen crowned sovereign and how old was the Queen when she became the Queen? Here’s everything you need to know.
The Queen meets The Amir of Qatar
The Queen has met The Amir of Qatar this afternoon at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace tweeted.
Prince William says awarding damehood to Deborah James was ‘amazing for her family’
The Duke of Cambridge has spoken about the experience of giving Deborah James her Damehood, calling it “amazing”.
Prince William paid a visit to her at home earlier this month to present her with the award in person.
Olivia Petter reports:
Prince William says awarding damehood to Deborah James was ‘amazing for her family’
‘I was very honoured to be able to speak to her,’ says Duke
Thank you for following our live coverage of the Queen’s platinum jubilee and all things related to the royal family today. Come back tomorrow to join us again as we continue to report in the lead-up to the big platinum jubilee weekend.
Good morning, and welcome back to The Independent’s liveblog following all the latest updates on the Queen. Her Majesty’s big platinum jubilee weekend is imminent, and we will keep you in the loop as the celebrations draw nearer.
Eurovision star Sam Ryder is ‘speechless’ about performing at the Queen’s jubilee concert
Sam Ryder is “a bit speechless” about being selected as one of the acts to perform at the Queen’s platinum jubilee concert.
The Eurovision star –who represented the UK in the 2022 contest – has been celebrating ever since competing in Turin, Italy, where he came in second place with an impressive 466 points.
Culture Reporter Nicole Vassell has the full story:
Eurovision star Sam Ryder is ‘speechless’ about performing at the Jubilee concert
UK’s Eurovision competitor will take part in the concert at Buckingham Palace on Saturday 4 June
Queen is a ‘girl in pearls’ with a difference for new Country Life frontispiece
The Queen has appeared as one of Country Life’s famous “girls in pearls” for the platinum jubilee, with a portrait collage made up of fragments of the sovereign at different stages of her life.
The artwork, entitled “Faces Of A Monarch”, has been created by artist James Vaulkhard for the 125-year-old magazine in honour of the head of state’s milestone.
Queen is a ‘girl in pearls’ with a difference for new Country Life frontispiece
The magazine has commissioned a special artwork for its Platinum Jubilee edition
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