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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Your support makes all the difference.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.
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Duchess of Cambridge watching from Duke of Wellington’s former office
The Duchess of Cambridge could be seen watching Trooping from the Duke of Wellington’s former office.
She could be seen chatting to someone out of view and earlier appeared to be chatting with the Duchess of Cornwall.
Kate Middleton wears Diana’s earrings to parade
The Duchess of Cambridge has worn her late mother-in-law’s earrings to the Trooping the Color parade today.
Kate Middleton was spotted wearing a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings once worn by Princess Diana, during the Queen’s birthday parade.
Kate was joined in the carriage for the royal procession by her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, along with the Duchess of Cornwall.
Prince Louis wears sailor suit similar to one worn by William in 1985
Prince Louis has worn a sailor’s suit to the Queen’s birthday parade, similar to one worn by his father when he was around the same age in 1985.
When Prince William was three years old, he wore a pale blue sailor’s suit to the Trooping the Colour parade at the time, which marked the Queen’s 59th birthday.
On Thursday, four-year-old Louis wore a strikingly similar sailor’s suit that was white with blue trim while riding in the royal procession with his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall, and his two older siblings.
Princess Charlotte stops Prince Louis’ enthusiastic waving
As Prince William and Kate Middleton’s three children appeared in the Trooping the Colour parade for the first time, Prince Louis seemed extra enthusiastic about the event, writes Furvah Shah.
As the three children waved at the large crowds, Prince Louis continued excitedly to which Princess Charlotte gently moved her younger brothers hand down.
Here is the story:
Princess Charlotte stops Prince Louis’ enthusiastic waving during jubilee parade
This is the first time that Prince William and Kate Middleton’s three children have appeared in the Trooping the Colour parade
Queen appears on balcony to review soldiers after Trooping the Colour
The Queen has stepped out on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour parade.
The monarch was joined by the Duke of Kent as soldiers filed past.
The Queen wears blue as she delights crowds in balcony appearance
Trooping the Colour parade heralds start of platinum jubilee celebrations
Paul McCartney and David Beckham praise the Queen
Sir Paul McCartney and David Beckham are among the stars celebrating the Queen as festivities for the Platinum Jubilee weekend get under way.
The Beatles star, 79, was knighted by the Queen in 1997, and shared a picture of himself with her from an event the year before as he congratulated her on her 70-year reign.
Alongside a picture on Instagram, Sir Paul wrote: “70 beautiful years of Queen Elizabeth the second. Congrats ma’ am! And thanks.”
David Beckham hailed the Queen’s reign as “remarkable” and wrote on Instagram: “Today, we celebrate our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 70 years of service and inspirational leadership of our country. Let’s come together and commemorate her remarkable reign with a great British party these next few days.”
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell shared two posts on Instagram to commemorate the occasion.
Among the pictures shared by Halliwell was one of her alongside her fellow Spice Girl bandmates - Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Mel B and Mel C - from 1997 when they met the monarch at the Royal Variety Performance.
They had performed as part of the show, staged at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre, in celebration of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Penny Lancaster shared a photo showing her husband, Sir Rod Stewart, in front of the gates at Buckingham Palace, ahead of him performing as part of Saturday night’s Party at the Palace concert, which will be broadcast on the BBC.
She captioned the picture: “Excitement and nervous for Saturday night £partyatthepalace”.
Sir Rod, who was given a knighthood in the 2016 Honours list, said previously of performing at the concert: “Queen Elizabeth has given incredible service to the United Kingdom over the last 70 years and I’m delighted to be able to join her in celebrating her Platinum Jubilee with the Party at the Palace.
“She has demonstrated to the world what a special person she is and how lucky we are to have her. This will be a momentous occasion.”
Other names on the bill for the concert include Queen + Adam Lambert who will open the concert, while Diana Ross will close the event, marking her first UK live performance in some 15 years.
Queen joined by Duke of Kent on balcony
The Queen was joined by the Duke of Kent on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Her Angela Kelly outfit included a dusky dove blue Charmelaine wool dres,s embellished with pearl and diamante trim around the neckline.
The monarch also wore the Guards’ Badge on her coat.
Climate protesters blame ‘Crown’s support for meat and dairy'
Climate and animal-rights campaign group Animal Rebellion said 25 of its supporters were involved in disruption “due to the Crown’s inaction on the climate emergency and their continued support for meat, fishing, and dairy, a leading contributor to climate breakdown”.
Police earlier arrested several protesters who had entered the ceremonial route on The Mall.
Some protesters sat down in the road before being pulled away by officers.
One of those sitting wore a golden crown around a hat, while another person walked ahead of the band holding a small poster which read “Reclaim Royal Land” above their head.
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