Having a royal family is archaic – but we cannot ignore the platinum jubilee

The culture desk doesn’t usually write about royal events – we aren’t Tatler. But it’s the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Diana Ross is closing the concert at Buckingham Palace – which is also live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio 2 – with her first UK live performance in 15 years.

Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran, Sam Ryder, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow, George Ezra, Andrea Bocelli, Mimi Webb, Jax Jones, Celeste, Nile Rodgers, Sigala and Diversity will also be performing across three stages.

For us journalists, it doesn’t matter whether we are working for a left wing – or politically independent publication. We can’t ignore the jubilee – this Queen is too loved by the public. For us, it’s action stations.

We are running explainers about the jubilee concert, as well as reviewing and liveblogging it.

We’ve got features covering the best depictions of the royal family and the Queen in film and TV, lists of songs that reference the Queen, as well as a first-person piece by former Sex Pistols’ guitarist Steve Jones about the band’s 1977 anti-monarchy protest song, “God Save The Queen”.

In my opinion, having a royal family is archaic. But I’m still going to celebrate. While I might not be standing in the Mall desperate for a glimpse of senior royals on the balcony, I’m sure to be at one of the jubilee street parties – and, of course, I’m not going to miss Diana Ross either. God save the Queen.

Yours,

Charlotte Cripps

Senior culture writer