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

Police forces in London joined in street parties to mark the festivities.

Boris Johnson will give a New Testament reading at the thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral in the morning.

Members of his Cabinet are also among the guests, along with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, first ministers of the devolved governments and former prime ministers.

The diplomatic world will be represented by high commissioners and ambassadors from across the world and also attending are governors general and clergy from world faiths.

The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell will give the sermon after the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby tested positive for Covid-19.

The Dean of St Paul’s will conduct the service.

Young people representing countries where the Queen is head of state will lead the ‘Act of Commitment’ celebrating the life and reign of the monarch, led by the Reverend Robert Kozak.

During the day, one of the country’s largest bells, the Great Paul, will be rung before and after the service, the first time it will have been heard at a royal occasion.

Former US president Barack Obama was among those paying tribute to the Queen.

In a video message, he said he felt he had formed a special relationship with the monarch and that he had learnt so much from the example she set.

Her steadfastness stewardship of the UK had made the world a safer place, he added.

“Continue to reign supreme,” he said.

The Duchess of Cornwall has tied a ribbon for “all the victims of domestic abuse” during her appearance in a special EastEnders episode.

Charles and Camilla surprised the residents of Walford in the storyline after Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer, decided to throw a street party for the Square.

EastEnders icon Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean, said it was a “proper royal seal of approval”.

In the episode, Charles unveiled a plaque commemorating the visit to Albert Square dated June 2.

The Queen will miss a national service of thanksgiving on Friday “with great reluctance” after experiencing “some discomfort” during Thursday’s platinum jubilee celebrations, Buckingham Palace has said.

The 96-year-old monarch will stay away from the event at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, as will her son Prince Andrew, who has contracted Covid-19.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said the Queen “greatly enjoyed” her birthday parade and flypast in London but “did experience some discomfort”.

A recent poll found that 63 per cent of Britons are planning to celebrate at some point over the 2 to 5 June weekend, which means there are lots of opportunities for people to put their skills to good use.

In the lead-up to the weekend, and as the UK continues to face a cost of living crisis, many people have begun using their skills as side hustles.

While some people are turning into princesses for kids, others are baking lavish cakes, or planning illustrious themed parties. Essentially: if you can imagine it, you can do it.

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Britain is gearing up for the second day of platinum jubilee celebrations, which will see most members of the royal family attend a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Buckingham Palace has announced that the Queen will miss the event due to mobility issues, and the Duke of York will no longer attend after testing positive for Covid-19.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to be present.

Kate Ng has today’s schedule here:

Buckingham Palace was adorned with images of the Queen throughout her historic 70-year reign on Thursday evening.

As night fell in London, the royal residence was lit up with photographs of the monarch, including a portrait from her coronation in 1953.

The Queen has met her great-granddaughter, Lilibet Mountbatten Windsor, for the first time, according to reports.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in London this weekend with their two children for the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

According to royal commentator Omid Scobie, co-author of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s biography Finding Freedom, the couple introduced their youngest child to the Queen on Thursday in Windsor.

Royal commentator Omid Scobie has said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex want to keep a low profile during the platinum jubilee celebrations.

The couple’s presence, alongside their children Archie and Lilibet, marks the first time the family has returned to the UK since they stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020.

Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom, told BBC Breakfast: “I spoke with people close to the couple...who said that they want to be as low-profile as possible during this trip.

“It’s almost hard to believe, but I think yesterday Trooping the Colour was a great example. We didn’t really catch sight of them on TV cameras.”