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
WATCH: 6 things to know about the Queen’s platinum jubilee
Although she is the first monarch to celebrate 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II isn’t the first royal to celebrate landmark dates in style.
Since George III in 1809, monarchs have been commemorated in a variety of different ways, including with parties, pageants and world tours.
Watch our latest IndyTV to discover six things about the royals and their jubilees, ahead of the Queen’s June celebrations:
6 things to know about the Queen’s platinum jubilee
The UK is marking the Queen’s platinum jubilee with a special bank holiday weekend, celebrating the monarch’s record-breaking 70-year reign.Queen Elizabeth II, of course, isn’t the first royal to celebrate landmark dates in style.Since George III in 1809, monarchs have been commemorated in a variety of different ways, including with parties, pageants and world tours.Here are six things to know about the royals and their jubilees, ahead of the Queen’s June celebrations.Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Hopes London’s £80m Jubilee celebrations will kickstart economic recovery
Celebrations taking place in London’s West End to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee could be worth £80m and kickstart the economic recovery of the entire UK, according to new research.
Joanna Whitehead reports:
Hopes London’s £80m Jubilee celebrations will kickstart economic recovery
The capital is gearing up to celebrate the Queen’s 70-year reign with a series of events
Queen travels to Balmoral ahead of platinum jubilee celebrations
The Queen has travelled to Balmoral for a short break ahead of the platinum jubilee celebrations which begin next week.
The monarch has attended a number of high-profile engagements in recent weeks and it is understood she is now pacing herself before the national events start.
It is understood the Queen arrived at her private Scottish home on Thursday. She usually visits Scotland at this time of year.
PA
Score a royal bargain for platinum jubilee
As Britons prepare to spend the four-day platinum jubilee weekend marking the Queen’s 70th year on the throne, restaurants, supermarket and food delivery services have launched special deals and discounts to help the nation celebrate.
To help you get the most royal bang for your buck, we;’ve rounded up food and drink offers and giveaways that are launching in the coming days.
All the food and drink deals over the platinum jubilee bank holiday
The nation will mark the Queen’s seven decade-long reign in June
What the royal family have said about The Crown
While we’re big fans of Netflix’s The Crown over here, the royal family aren’t so keen on the highly-popular series about, well, themselves.
In September 2019, palace officials actually released a statement making it clear that the royal family has nothing to do with how its members are portrayed in The Crown.
Culture reporter Ellie Muir takes a look at everything the royal family has said about the series:
What members of the royal family think of The Crown
Ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, we reflect on the depiction of the royal family in Netflix’s period drama – and what certain members had to say about it
POLL: Who’s your favourite member of the royal family?
There are just days to go until the Queen’s platinum jubilee and whether you’re spending the upcoming Bank Holiday being patriotic or will be avoiding all union jacks, we want to know; do you have a favourite royal and if so, who?
Have your say in the poll below:
Who’s your favourite member of the royal family?
Vote to shape The Independent’s reader-determined ranking of your most popular royals
Thanks for joining us today! See you tomorrow when we return to bring you the latest updates on the Queen and the royal family as the platinum jubilee weekend quickly approaches.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the Queen, the royal family and the platinum jubilee.
Kate makes nod to Meghan and Harry during garden party
In case you missed it, Kate Middleton appeared to make a nod to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry during a garden party she attended at Buckingham Palace this week.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore a similar style of headwear that she wore to the Sussex’s wedding in 2018.
Harry and Meghan are expected to head to the UK with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee next week.
Saman Javed reports:
Kate Middleton makes nod to Meghan and Harry during Queen’s garden party
The Duchess of Cambridge chose a mint-green ensemble
Where will Meghan and Harry stay during the Queen’s jubilee?
With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle set to return to the UK on an official visit next week for the first time since they stepped down as senior members of the royal family, there’s one question we’ve all been asking: Where will they stay?
Chelsea Ritschel has the answer:
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
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