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
What platinum jubilee events will the Queen attend?
The platinum jubilee celebrations to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne are fast approaching.
However, the question of whether the 96-year-old monarch will be fit to attend all the events is still up for debate due to episodic mobility issues suffered by the Queen since autumn last year.
So, what events is Her Majesty expected to attend over the bank holiday weekend? Joanna Whitehead details everything we know so far:
What events will the Queen attend on the platinum jubilee weekend?
Episodic mobility issues have blighted the Queen since the autumn
That’s a wrap of our royal coverage today, check back in tomorrow as we begin our countdown to the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
Good morning, and welcome back to The Independent’s liveblog following the latest updates on the Queen and her platinum jubilee. Just under two days to go before the festivities get underway!
Archbishop of Canterbury to miss Platinum Jubilee service
The Archbishop of Canterbury is set to miss the Platinum Jubilee service due to a positive Covid test and mild pneumonia.
Lambeth Palace said Justin Welby will not be preaching at St Paul’s Cathedral in London for the celebration later this week.
The archbishop said he was “deeply saddened” to be missing the service marking 70 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth II.
Zoe Tidman reports:
Archbishop of Canterbury to miss Platinum Jubilee service
Justin Welby says he is ‘deeply saddened’ to be missing ‘historic celebration’ later in week
Queen’s beloved corgi breed surges in popularity nationwide
The Queen’s favourite dog breed, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, has surged in popularity in the past year, new figures show.
According to data from The Kennel Club (TKC), there were 1,223 corigis registered in 2021, marking the highest annual figure in nearly 30 years.
Olivia Petter has all the details:
Queen’s beloved corgi breed surges in popularity nationwide
Number of corgis registered last year has reached record high
When is the jubilee bank holiday weekend?
In case you need yet another reminder, these are the dates for the platinum jubilee bank holiday weekend:
Everything that happened at the Queen’s previous jubilees
Over her decades-long reign, Queen Elizabeth II has celebrated her Silver, Gold and Diamond Jubilees in spectacular fashion, with plenty of events, pageants and tours to celebrate.
Read up on everything that happened at her previous jubilees:
Everything that happened at the Queen’s Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees
Her Majesty has marked a number of significant milestones throughout her 70-year reign
When will bins be collected over the bank holiday weekend?
The day of your bin collection over the Bank Holiday weekend will be decided by your local council.
There is no one-fits-all system in the UK for bin collections over the long weekend, so some households may have their bins collected later or earlier than the normal schedule.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain has the full report:
How Jubilee bank holiday weekend will impact on your bin collections
Some councils will be making alterations to services over the four-day weekend
Queen’s Maid of Honour ‘overwhelmed’ at reunion with restored Coronation dress
One of the Maids of Honour at the Queen’s Coronation was stunned after being reunited with her dress which had “seemed to disintegrate in one’s hands” before its restoration.
The silk gown Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill wore on 2 June 1953 had suffered extreme sunlight exposure after years on display, causing the material to become “split and shattered”.
Here’s the full story on her reunion with the gown:
Queen’s Maid of Honour ‘overwhelmed’ at reunion with restored Coronation dress
Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill last wore the silk gown in 1953
The accidental monarch: Charting 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II
As the Queen marks seven decades on the throne, Sean O’Grady says her reign has been one full of surprises.
You can read his analysis of Her Majesty’s reign here:
The accidental monarch: Charting 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II
As the Queen marks seven decades on the throne, Sean O’Grady says her reign has been one full of surprises
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