The Queen’s 70th Jubilee is the major event in Great Britain. Al fresco feasts are now held all over Britain. The list of celebrity guests was long. All important events to read in the FOCUS Online ticker.
09.12: To conclude the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th jubilee, open-air banquets will take place across Great Britain on Sunday. Millions of guests are expected to attend the picnics organized by more than 70,000 hosts. Heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla also take part in one of these “Big Jubilee Lunches” in London. More than 600 banquets are also held in the Commonwealth and other countries.
The high point of the day is a big parade in central London, which leads to Buckingham Palace. Musicians, performers, dancers and actors portray the many historical changes that have occurred since Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952. At the end of the parade, the national anthem “God Save the Queen” is sung in front of the palace, led by pop star Ed Sheeran.
Sunday, June 5th, 7:57 a.m .: With stars like the rock band Queen, Rod Stewart or Alicia Keys and an emotional speech by heir to the throne Charles, the British celebrated Elizabeth II’s 70th jubilee on Saturday. The concert at Buckingham Palace in central London had 22,000 spectators on site – and millions more around the world. Charles thanked his “mummy” for being “there for us these 70 years”.
Legendary rock band Queen, featuring vocalist Adam Lambert, kicked off the party with their hits ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and ‘We Are The Champions’. The US singer Alicia Keys, the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, the British band Duran Duran, Rod Stewart and this year’s British starter at the Eurovision Song Contest, Sam Ryder, were also part of the party.
Motown legend Diana Ross made her first UK appearance in 15 years on the 360-degree stage outside Buckingham Palace. Elton John participated with a touching pre-recorded performance of his hit “Your Song”. Former England soccer player David Beckham, James Bond actor Daniel Craig and former US First Lady Michelle Obama also paid tribute to the Queen in video messages.
Buckingham Palace was festively lit during the two and a half hour show. A message from wildlife filmmaker David Attenborough and numerous images of Elizabeth II were projected onto the palace walls. The Queen herself wanted to watch the spectacle in her honor at Windsor Castle on television. On Friday, Elizabeth II had already missed the big thanksgiving service in London’s Saint Paul Cathedral because of “illness”.
Nevertheless, many royal celebrities gathered in the grandstand of the pop concert, including Prince Charles with his wife Camilla and his eldest son Prince William with his wife Kate. Their two older children, eight-year-old George and seven-year-old Charlotte, were also allowed to be there.
William’s brother Harry and his wife Meghan, who traveled to London from the United States on the occasion of the throne anniversary, did not come to the concert. Her second child Lilibet had her birthday on Saturday.
Shortly before the end of the concert, Prince Charles paid tribute to his mother in a speech. “You met us and talked to us, you laughed and cried with us and, most importantly, you were there for us for these 70 years,” he said. “You made a promise to serve throughout your life – you continue to deliver. That’s why we’re here. That’s what we’re celebrating today.”
10:19 p.m .: At a big concert in front of Buckingham Palace with many stars from music, society and sport, thousands in London celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th jubilee. The Queen herself made the start in a video clip that showed her having tea with the popular film character Paddington. “Thanks for everything,” said the bear – then the rock band Queen opened the show.
Although the Queen was on screen, she stayed away from the spectacle in her honour. The 96-year-old monarch repeatedly has mobility problems. Her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Duchess Meghan were not there either.
At the end of the two and a half hour “Platinum Party at the Palace”, organized by the BBC, the heir to the throne Prince Charles also wanted to speak. The third day of the anniversary celebrations ended with the mega concert.
8:40 p.m .: While most of the royal family will celebrate on Saturday night at a concert in front of Buckingham Palace on the occasion of the Queen’s jubilee, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan will not attend. Instead, they will spend their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday in private.
The couple are keeping a low profile this weekend after the Queen said there should be “no drama” during the anniversary, reports British newspaper The Sun. Harry and Meghan have only been to the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London so far. The Queen will not be able to watch the show in person either. She will remain in Windsor and watch the event on TV.
6:37 p.m.: Queen Elizabeth II watches the traditional Epsom Derby horse race at home on the sofa in her “comfortable clothes,” her granddaughter Zara Tindall said on Saturday as her mother, Princess Anne, represented the queen at Saturday’s races. “She’ll be watching the race on TV – she’s got some runners spread across the country today so she knows exactly what’s going on. She’ll just sit on the sofa and watch TV, in her comfy clothes.
4:37 p.m .: According to a body language expert, Prince William showed his brother, Prince Harry, the “opposite of recognition” at the thanksgiving service on Friday for the jubilee. The two brothers sat far apart and were not even seen standing next to each other. “So far there have not been moments between the brothers that signaled recognition or any hint of reconciliation,” body language expert Judi James told the British newspaper Mirror.
She said William even made a “barrier gesture” as he and his wife Kate walked past the pew his brother was sitting on on their way to their seat. “He sucked in his lips, pulled his chin up and seemed to turn his head the other way for a moment while lifting the sheet of music in a gesture of delineation,” analyzed James. Harry, on the other hand, seemed resigned to not sitting behind his brother, James commented.
4.06pm: Peter Philipps, known as Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘favourite grandson’, arrived at the traditional Epsom Derby horse race with a new wife at his side. Peter arrived with his new partner Lindsay Wallace, his sister Zara Tindall and mother Princess Anne, who replaced her mother the Queen in the race.
The Queen is said to have met Peter’s new girlfriend earlier this year following his divorce from his ex-wife Autumn, reports British tabloid Mirror. The Queen is believed to have met Lindsay after a shooting match in Windsor – a sign the couple are “serious”.
2:57 p.m .: On behalf of the Queen, her daughter Princess Anne attended the traditional Epsom Derby horse race. The 71-year-old was greeted with cheers and British flags on Saturday. Also present were her second husband Tim Laurence and their children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall from their first marriage.
The Princess Royal was in good spirits in the Royal Box as she waved to the crowd. The Queen had decided not to attend to recover from the previous celebrations. The equestrian fanatic has been thought to be watching the race on television at her Windsor Castle residence.
In honor of the Queen, 40 jockeys who had ridden for the horse owner and breeder in the past formed an honor guard in royal racing suits. Then the national anthem was played. Five of the Queen’s previous racehorses were presented at the site.
2:05 p.m .: Duchess Meghan’s (40, born Meghan Markle) hairdresser, of all people, has fulfilled the wishes of numerous royal fans and finally revealed details about their children Archie (3) and Lilibet (1). So far, the royal supporters have not been able to take a look at the children of Meghan and Prince Harry (37) at the throne jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II (96).
Regarding a series of photos showing Harry and Meghan at the service in St. Paul’s Cathedral, George Northwood writes: “It is so nostalgic and wonderful to see Harry, Meghan and their family again in the United Kingdom.” Then the long-awaited details about the two follow Children he probably saw styling the Duchess. “Archie is the cutest, most well behaved boy and Lilibet is beautiful.”
He receives compliments for these insights – and also for his work. A fan account of Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry writes: “Finally an update from Archie and Lili, thanks!”. He also gets praise for his styling of the Duchess: “You did a great job with Meghan’s hairstyle.”
11:13 a.m .: Queen’s great-granddaughter Lilibet received congratulations from the palace on her first birthday. “Wishing Lilibet a Happy 1st Birthday,” the Royal Family’s official account tweeted on Saturday, along with a balloon emoji. As reported by the media, Queen Elizabeth II wanted to meet her second youngest great-grandchild in person on Saturday.
According to information from the newspaper “Sun”, the audience for Lilibet’s family with father Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan is not the first time that the Queen has seen the toddler in person. Accordingly, Elizabeth met little Lilibet, named after the monarch’s family nickname, on one of the previous days.
You can read more about the events surrounding the platinum anniversary on the next page.
Read here: Personal SUV and security: Queen sends signs of reconciliation to Harry and Meghan
