Jubilee - live: Platinum Party at the Palace begins with surprise sketch of the Queen and Paddington

The scene along the Mall - lined with Union Jack-clad patriots - is one of restless anticipation, reports Emily Atkinson.

Dominating today is a sense of great love for Britain and Britishness, a sentiment stirred up by apparently unwavering devotion to the Queen.

The crowd is made of people from up and down the UK and beyond, and renditions of the national anthem are can be heard in different pockets as you stroll its perimeter.

Allison and Yvonne, from Redditch, and Rita, from Bromsgrove, travelled down from the West Midlands last night before waking up at the crack of dawn to bag their spot on Pall Mall.

“I was at the 1977 Jubilee. I was five in school,” Allison told The Independent.

“We got a mug and a coin. It was fabulous and to be part of it again today is amazing.”

Rita also made the trip down to London for the Queen’s 60th Jubilee.

“I didn’t stand on The Mall last time, so I want to stand there today and fly my flag,” she said.

Causing a stir today is the attendance of Prince Harry and Meghan, despite the controversy of recent years.

But for Rita, it is important that Harry attends the celebrations.

“They’re family. It’s her grandson. I think they should be allowed.”

Also looming low over today’s festivities are several notable absences from the Royal troop.

The sidelining of the Duke of York, in particular, is creating division among Jubilee attendees.

“I’ve got mixed emotions about Andrew,” Rita said.

“He’s a royal member. He’s been in the armed forces and served his country. And it’s his mother. So why shouldn’t he be at least on the balcony, if nowhere else, or at St Paul’s tomorrow?”

Could jubilee street party road closures give people a taste for quieter streets, less traffic and an improved sense of community?

West Midlands Cycling & Walking Commissioner Adam Tranter hopes so:

Royal aides will be keeping a close eye on the Queen. The monarch has faced ongoing “episodic mobility problems”, since the autumn, and now uses a walking stick.

Her royal physicians are also likely to be close at hand in case needed as the monarch, now just four years away from her 100th birthday, undertakes a busy run of appearances to mark her milestone reign.

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Hundreds of people have gathered on the Mall to watch Trooping the Colour. Emily Atkinson has captured some of the action:

The start of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations coincide with a significant anniversary for the monarch – her Coronation Day.

Sixty nine years ago, Elizabeth II was crowned in the historic surrounds of Westminster Abbey and celebrated with street parties across the country.

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It is not all smooth sailing for those wanting to take part, though.

Our reporter at the scene, Colin Drury, says there appears to be all kinds of organisational problems for thousands of people getting down to The Mall.

Thousands have been directed to one entrance, St George’s Steps, only to be told by security it is closed, and directed to another entrance three miles away – which was previously closed.

Barriers are now being shut despite hundreds of people crowded around.

Police have been seen making an arrest on the Mall shortly before the Trooping the Colour ceremony begins.

Our reporter outside Buckingham Palace reported booing from the crowd as the individual was seen handcuffed on the ground.

A selection of outfits made by royal dressmakers for waxwork figures of the Queen will be on display at Madame Tussaud’s from Friday 3 June.

As part of celebrations to mark the platinum jubilee, Tussauds will showcase seven of the outfits worn by figures of the Queen throughout her reign.

Tussauds has created 24 figures of the Queen in total during her 70 years on the throne.

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