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

[18 May 2022 10:00 · Kate Ng]

Charles discusses ‘vital process of reconciliation’ in Canada amid calls for apology over indigenous treatment

Prince Charles has pledged to listen and learn from Canadians embarking on a process of reconciliation to “come to terms with the darker and more difficult aspects of the past”.

It comes after the couple faced calls from indigenous communities for the Queen to formally apologise for the treatment of indigenous people in education institutions.

[18 May 2022 10:33 · Kate Ng]

Tube strike action announced for jubilee weekend

Strike action has been announced for the Jubilee long weekend (2-5 June) which could affect the celebrations in the capital.

The RMT Union says its members will walk out of Euston and Green Park stations on Friday 3 June to protest bullying and a “toxic working environment”.

The strikes would last all day on the Friday and affect passengers aiming to travel on the Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly Lines.

Our Deputy Travel Editor Lucy Thackray reports:

[18 May 2022 11:30 · Kate Ng]

Crafters to decorate post boxes ahead of Queen’s Jubilee

The UK’s crochet experts have picked up their hooks to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – recreating the monarch and her corgis in miniature to sit on top of post boxes across the country.

Keen crocheters have decorated their communities with bejewelled crowns and googly-eyed versions of the Queen’s Guard to mark her 70 years on the throne.

[18 May 2022 12:30 · Kate Ng]

‘My therapist will hear about this’

Everyone is gearing up to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee - but one chip shop’s offering for the royal occasion is... questionable.

Crisp and Fry, a chip shop chain in Wales, posted a TikTok video of its “Jubilee fish and chips”, featuring bright red chips and a blue battered fish, and the response is nothing short of hilarious.

Get the full story here:

[18 May 2022 13:30 · Kate Ng]

Diana Ross to headline Queen’s platinum jubilee concert

The legendary Diana Ross is set to headline the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace concert on Saturday 4 June.

The Ain’t No Mountain High Enough singer’s performance will be one of the main attractions for the event, which will be broadcast live on BBC One.

[18 May 2022 14:30 · Kate Ng]

Who is performing at the Platinum Party at the Palace concert?

The BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace concert on Saturday 4 June is gearing up to be a star-studded event, with the likes of Diana Ross, Adam Lambert and George Ezra already lined up to headline the show.

Our Culture Reporter Isobel Lewis has all the details:

[18 May 2022 15:30 · Kate Ng]

Diana’s Spencer Tiara to go on display for Jubilee jewels exhibition

The famous Spencer Tiara, worn by Diana, Princess of Wales on her wedding day, is to go on display as part of the UK’s largest exhibition of tiaras in 20 years.

Some 50 glittering treasures of aristocratic and royal provenance, many seen for the first time in public in decades, will be on view as part of Sotheby’s’ Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Find out more:

[18 May 2022 16:30 · Kate Ng]

Take a look back at 70 incredible years of Queen Elizabeth II

The Independent is hosting a free panel discussion on Thursday 19 May at 6.30pm with royal experts Jennie Bond and Sean O’Grady, hosted by our Deputy Lifestyle Editor Laura Hampson.

Follow this link to book your spot on the Zoom session now.

[18 May 2022 16:44 · Laura Hampson]

Prince Harry welcomes Colombia and Nigeria to Invictus community

The Duke of Sussex has announced that Colombia and Nigeria are joining his Invictus Games Foundation in a new “community” structure.

Harry founded the Invictus Games to aid the rehabilitation of injured or sick military personnel and veterans from across the globe by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.

More here:

[18 May 2022 17:48 · Laura Hampson]

William pays tribute to ‘resilience’ of submariners

The Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to the “continued resilience” of the Royal Navy’s submariners and their families as he unveiled a new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.

William gave a short speech on the Submarine Service during the unveiling ceremony at the Staffordshire site on Wednesday, in which he said: “You would be hard-pressed to find a more challenging environment to serve in.”

Read the full report here: