Platinum Jubilee concert – live: Diana Ross leads grand finale at BBC celebration

All the updates from the star-studded ceremony

Queen pulls out of thanksgiving service after 'discomfort’ at Jubilee celebrations

The Queen’s platinum jubilee will be celebrated with a high-profile concert on Saturday evening (4 June).

Many renowned musicians and bands will perform as part of the Platinum Party at the Palace gig, which is being held by the BBC.

Twenty-two thousand people will attend the event, including 10,000 members of the public who won tickets in the public ballot, which closed on 23 March.

Over 7,500 tickets were designated for key workers, members of the armed forces, volunteers, and charities.

Find all the details on how to watch the concert, as well as full updates from the event, below – and updates from other jubilee events here.

Key Points

• Queen and Adam Lambert begin the night with three rock hits
• The Queen appears with Paddington Bear in a pre-recorded skit
• Lee Mack ad-libs a dig at Boris Johnson while on stage
• Rod Stewart covers Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’, the ‘official song of the jubilee'
• George Ezra censors lyric about dying in ‘Green Green Grass'
• Prince William appears on stage to give speech about the environment
• Stephen Fry has another jab at British prime minister during appearance on stage

[4 June 2022 11:13 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Hello, and welcome to our live blog for tonight’s Platinum Jubilee concert!

[4 June 2022 11:35 · Jacob Stolworthy]

In case you haven’t noticed, the country is currently celebrating the Queen’s 70th year on the throne.

The BBC will mark this with a special concert featuring an array of many famous musicians.

Find out who will be performing here.

[4 June 2022 12:00 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Many songs will be sung tonight – but we’re going to assume none of these will make a showing.

[4 June 2022 12:20 · Jacob Stolworthy]

Stars set to perform include Diana Ross, George Ezra, Alicia Keys and, of course, Queen + Adam Lambert.

Brian May will perform at the platinum jubilee concert (Chung Sung-Jun/Pool/AFP)

[4 June 2022 12:50 · Jacob Stolworthy]

On hosting duties for tonight’s concert will be Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp.

(BBC)

[4 June 2022 13:45 · Louis Chilton]

In a turnout for the books, Sex Pistols star Johnny Rotten has said he says he “totally respects” the Queen as a person and is looking forward to this weekend’s jubilee celebrations.

The singer, whose band were famous for their anti-establishment lyrics, admitted he was “attracted to pageantry” and praised the monarch’s “sense of dignity”.

Read more...

[4 June 2022 14:30 · Louis Chilton]

“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond has been voted as the song of the Platinum Jubilee by Radio 2 listeners.

Now, the nation is being called on to sing the track at street parties tomorrow.

Read more below...

[4 June 2022 15:00 · Louis Chilton]

The stage is set...

[4 June 2022 15:45 · Louis Chilton]

There’s still a few hours until the concert gets underway.

If you’re looking for something to watch, here are eight of the best films and TV shows about the queen that are available to stream on Netflix.

[4 June 2022 16:15 · Louis Chilton]

Sound of Music star Julie Andrews is among the celebs to have paid tribute to the queen during the jubilee.

“Your majesty, I well remember the beautiful radio speech you gave on your 21st birthday,” the Sound of Music star began in her tribute.

“You pledged yourself in service to the people of Britain and the Commonwealth. And I feel that in all the years since, you have never betrayed that promise.”

Read more...