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

[8 June 2022 05:12 · Meredith Clark]

Platinum Jubilee: Highlights from the Queen’s celebrations

The Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations concluded on Sunday with a star-studded platinum jubilee pageant and a surprise appearance from the monarch on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

The four-day weekend ended with a statement from the Queen, who said that over her seven-decade reign there was “no guidebook to follow” and that she was “humbled and deeply touched” by the jubilee.

From Prince Louis stealing the Queen’s limelight to Kate Middleton’s subtle tribute to Princess Diana, here are some of the best moments from the platinum jubilee.

[8 June 2022 05:49 · Shweta Sharma]

Prince of Wales to appoint Sir David Attenborough as Knight Grand Cross

The Prince of Whales will officially appoint the world-famous director and naturalist Sir David Attenborough a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael And St George.

Sir David, 96, who is the same age as the Queen, is being awarded the higher accolade for his services to television broadcasting and to conservation.

He is expected to be knighted by Prince Charles for his work on documentaries about the natural world and his campaigning to save it at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The broadcaster was featured in a segment of the Platinum Party at the Palace during the Platinum Jubilee concert held outside Buckingham Palace in London on 4 June.

[8 June 2022 06:00 · Meredith Clark]

The best memes of the royal children from the Platinum Jubilee weekend

While the platinum jubilee celebrations were filled with fanfare and fashion, it was the youngest members of the royal family who provided some extra entertainment over the long weekend.

Prince Louis made only two public appearances but still managed to win the hearts of the public, while Prince George was compared to a football manager in a viral tweet.

Here are our favourite memes of the royal children over the platinum jubilee weekend:

[8 June 2022 06:26 · Shweta Sharma]

Royal Family thank Gibraltar for ‘lovely welcome’

The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Gibraltar on behalf of the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee for the first time after marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

On the first day of the trip, the royal representatives met the governor of Gibraltar, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel, and the chief minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo QC MP.

In a tweet, the royal family thanked the people of Gibraltar for the loverly welcome.

The visit by the royals will focus on promoting opportunities for young people and education while recognising its communities, culture and history, as well as its links with the UK.

[8 June 2022 07:00 · Meredith Clark]

Prince Charles laughs uncontrollably during jubilee pageant

Prince Charles appeared to be filled with laughter Sunday night, while watching the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pageant.

As a troupe of dancing elephants and zebras passed by the royal family, the Prince of Wales was seen giggle, while his wife, Camilla, and son, Prince William, leaned over to ask him what was so funny.

[8 June 2022 08:00 · Meredith Clark]

Meghan Markle’s hairstylist share brief details about the Duchess’ children

Meghan Markle’s go-to stylist, George Northwood, has praised Archie and Lilibet, as he worked with Duchess of Sussex for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

On Instagram, he expressed how wonderful it was to reunite with the royal family, including Prince Harry, Markle, and their two children.

“So nostalgic and wonderful to be reunited [with] Harry, Meghan and their family in the UK,” the hairdresser wrote. “Archie has grown to be the cutest, well mannered little boy and Lilibet is just beautiful.”

[8 June 2022 09:49 · Kate Ng]

WATCH: Prince Louis captured bickering with his cousins over a pack of sweets

Prince Louis has captured hearts once again as a new viral video shows him bickering with his second cousins and sister Princess Charlotte over a pack of sweets.

During Sunday’s jubilee pageant, Prince Louis became a social media sensation as fans spotted his cheeky expressions, most notably when he shushed his mother, Kate Middleton.

Watch the youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge get up to more antics below:

[8 June 2022 11:00 · Kate Ng]

The best royal fashion moments from the platinum jubilee weekend

The Queen’s platinum jubilee served as the perfect opportunity for members of the royal family to showcase their sartorial prowess this weekend.

Here are our favourite looks from the platinum jubilee weekend:

[8 June 2022 12:00 · Kate Ng]

Pippa Middleton pregnant with her third child

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews are expecting their third child.

The younger sister to the Duchess of Cambridge debuted her baby bump on Saturday night during the Party at the Palace, which was being held as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations.

Laura Hampson reports:

[8 June 2022 14:00 · Kate Ng]

Princess Charlotte corrects her older brother’s posture

Princess Charlotte adorably stepped in and corrected Prince George’s posture while they stood on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the Queen on Sunday (5 June).

Watch the Cambridges’ only daughter nudge her older brother during the national anthem below: