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

Queen Elizabeth plays ‘We will rock you’ on a tea cup with Paddington for Jubilee party

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.

Key points

• Lilibet turns one
• Full schedule for platinum jubilee
• Prince George and Princess Charlotte make appearance in Wales with their parents
• Harry and Meghan will not attend jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace with senior royals
• Platinum Party at the Palace kicks off with surprise sketch of the Queen and Paddington Bear

[1 June 2022 08:50 · Saman Javed]

How old was Queen Elizabeth when she became the Queen?

With just one day to go before the platinum jubilee celebrations begin, many people up and down the country are reflecting on the past 70 years and all that the monarch has achieved.

We’ve taken a look back at the beginning of her reign, and how she became Queen before the age of 30.

Joanna Whitehead shares more here:

[1 June 2022 09:30 · Saman Javed]

What platinum jubilee events are taking place and when?

There are plenty of festivities taking part this weekend.

The celebrations will begin with the Trooping the Colour ceremony and the lighting of the royal beacons on Thursday.

This will be followed by a Service of Thanksgiving on Friday which the entire royal family, including the Duke of York and the Duke and the Duchess of Sussex, are expected to attend.

Over the weekend, there is a platinum jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace as well as a platinum jubilee pageant.

Additionally, the public are hosting street parties, with more than 15,000 planned to take place across the UK.

Here is the full schedule of events taking place this weekend:

[1 June 2022 10:03 · Saman Javed]

These are the supermarket opening times over the bank holiday weekend

As the nation gears up to celebrate the Queen’s historic milestone this weekend, it’s worth taking a note of how the bank holiday could affect supermarket opening times.

Many stores are operating reduced opening hours, so we recommend planning your grocery shopping ahead of time.

Kate Ng has the full list of opening times here:

[1 June 2022 10:30 · Saman Javed]

Meghan and Harry were the royal family’s last hope for a modern monarchy

With the Sussexes set to return to the UK to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee, we’ve explored the potential that was lost when they decided to leave the firm in 2020.

Emma Mackenzie takes a closer look here:

[1 June 2022 11:00 · Saman Javed]

Princess Eugenie pens sweet tribute to ‘grannie’

Princess Eugenie has written a tribute to her grandmother, the Queen, in honour of the monarch’s platinum jubilee.

Eugenie, who is the daughter of the Duke of York, reflected on Her Majesty’s historic 70-year reign.

She also said she would love for her one-year-old son, August, to have the Queen’s best traits when he grows up

“70 years is really quite something, isn’t it? The jubilee stands as a testimony to a woman who has transcended time and has been that constant rock for so many when the world can feel so fragile,” Eugenie wrote.

Kate Ng has the full details:

[1 June 2022 11:30 · Saman Javed]

What are the lyrics to the National Anthem?

With the platinum jubilee celebrations set to begin in less than a day, now is a good time to prepare yourself and learn the words to the National Anthem.

For those who usually just hum along to the patriotic song, “God Save The Queen”, Jacob Stolworthy has the full lyrics here:

[1 June 2022 12:00 · Saman Javed]

Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon says he ‘totally respects’ the queen as a person

Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon has said he “totally respects” the Queen as a person, and he is looking forward to her platinum jubilee celebrations this weekend.

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”.

The Sex Pistols’ famous song “God Save the Queen” was released more than 40 years ago during the monarch’s silver jubilee in 1977, before it was banned by the BBC.

Read the full story here:

[1 June 2022 12:30 · Saman Javed]

Who is your favourite member of the royal family?

With just one day to go until the Queen’s platinum jubilee, we want to know; do you have a favourite royal and if so, who?

We’ve listed all the main – living and adult – members of the royal family as it is at the moment, from the Queen to all her grandchildren and spouses who are most regularly in the public eye, including Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.

We’d like to give our readers the definitive ranking over the weekend, so pick your favourite, or let us know that you don’t have one by voting in our reader poll here:

[1 June 2022 13:07 · Saman Javed]

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson in London ahead of Queen’s platinum jubilee

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson have been photographed in London this week, having arrived ahead of the UK’s special bank holiday weekend.

Photographs of the pair taken on Tuesday showed Kardashian wearing a full Balenciaga outfit, featuring a cropped beige hoodie and shiny gold leggings that ended with pointed stiletto boots.

Davidson, who recently died his hair platinum blonde to match his girlfriend’s, wore a black hoodie under a quilted black jacket with dark green trousers and white trainers.

Some reports have speculated that Kardashian and Davidson are in London to meet with other celebrities attending the Queen’s platinum jubilee parties.

Kate Ng reports:

[1 June 2022 13:31 · Saman Javed]

Who will attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony tomorrow?

The platinum jubilee celebrations will kick off with the Queen’s “official” birthday on Thursday, which is marked with a military parade named Trooping the Colour.

During the parade, soldiers, musicians and horses will make their way down The Mall in London towards Buckingham Palace, and streets will be filled with spectators.

The Queen’s “official” birthday celebrations will be attended by all working members of the royal family and their children.

The Buckingham Palace has confirmed that 17 members of the family will join the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

The Duke of York and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be included in the line-up.

Saman Javed reports: