Future kings Charles and William to pay tribute to Queen at Jubilee concert
ITV News Reporter Hamish Auskerry on what to expect on the third day of the historic Platinum Jubilee celebrations
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are to take to the stage to pay public tributes to the Queen during the star-studded Jubilee concert.
The father and son – both future kings – will speak separately in honour of the monarch towards the end of the BBC’s open-air show, staged in the front of Buckingham Palace on Saturday evening.
Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, George Ezra, and Eurovision 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder are among the celebrity acts preparing to entertain a live crowd of 22,000 people in England's capital.
Clarence House and Kensington Palace announced both Charles and William would address the crowds at the high profile Platinum Party at the Palace, which falls on the third evening of the four-day Jubilee festivities.
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It is thought unlikely the Queen will attend the concert but confirmation of any movements will be released later on Saturday.
She will not attend Saturday’s Epsom Derby Day, but the avid racegoer is watching the developments on TV from Windsor Castle, where she has been sent a souvenir race card to follow the action.
The Princess Royal, representing her mother, was grinning from ear to ear as she attended the Epsom Derby Day with her family.
Anne, alongside her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, arrived at the sold-out racecourse in Surrey just before 1pm as part of a procession, which included her children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, who was with her husband, former rugby player Mike.
What can we expect on the third day of Jubilee festivities? ITV News Producer Lizzie Robinson reports live
Jubilee celebrations took place in the Queen’s absence, with 40 jockeys who have ridden for the owner-breeder donning the royal racing silks and forming a guard of honour before the national anthem was sung. Five of the monarch’s former racehorses were also paraded, and a selection of hats inspired by the seven decades of her reign have been displayed.
The Queen, 96, who has been facing ongoing mobility problems, pulled out of attending the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday after experiencing discomfort following two balcony appearances and a beacon lighting on Thursday.
Nearly 50 members of the royal family including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined in honour of the absent head of state for the religious occasion.
The Duchess of Cambridge said later the Queen had enjoyed Thursday’s celebrations but the day had been “very tiring”.
Saturday is the first birthday of Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet, who travelled with the Sussexes and older brother Archie for her first visit to the UK.
As numerous royals wished Lilibet happy birthday, Prince George and Princess Charlotte made a surprise Jubilee visit to Wales to meet entertainers staging a show in honour of the Queen.
The royal youngsters joined their parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Cardiff Castle - it was the siblings’ first official visit to Wales.
The Cambridges were there to meet performers and crew involved in the special Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert taking place in the castle grounds in the afternoon.
The Party at the Palace will be set on three stages in front of the Queen’s London residence.
Soul legend Ross will close the two-and-a-half hour show with her first UK live performance in 15 years.
Star including Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham and Stephen Fry will also feature, as well as a specially recorded performance from Sir Elton John.
The evening will highlight global themes that have emerged or evolved during the the Queen’s reign including British and Commonwealth contributions in the fields of fashion, sport, the environment and pop music.
Luckily for concert-goers, a second round of thunderstorms is expected to miss the Platinum Party at the Palace on Saturday night. After a forecast of thunder and downpours through Saturday morning, southern England is expected to see some “respite” before a return to “severe” weather, according to the Met Office.