Saturday 4 June 2022 12:16 AM Platinum Jubilee Day THREE: Epsom Derby and star-studded Party At The Palace ... trends now
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee enters its third day today with the Epsom Derby and Party At The Palace concert, featuring Diana Ross, Sir Rod Stewart, Sam Ryder and more.
They are part of a series of major events scheduled for the four-day extravaganza, which began on Thursday with Trooping the Colour and a jaw-dropping 71-aircraft Flypast, and which will end on Sunday with a special Pageant celebrating the life of the nation's longest-reigning monarch.
Outdoor parties will also take place on Sunday as part of the Big Jubilee Lunch.
The Queen delighted crowds on Thursday with an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony, where she is expected to appear again after the Pageant parade finale on Sunday.
However she was unable to attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday, after experiencing some 'discomfort' during the first day of celebrations. She has also regrettably pulled out of Saturday's Epsom Derby over similar concerns.
The Queen, 96, has also spent some personal time with the Sussexes, who have brought their children Archie and Lilibet over from the US - the latter of whom the monarch has met for the first time this weekend.
On Sunday, thousands of people will gather across the country as more than 85,000 Big Jubilee Lunches and street parties are staged in celebration of the Queen's record-breaking reign.
Royal Family members will also visit every corner of the UK over the weekend for official engagements - with William and Kate going to Wales; Edward and Sophie travelling to Northern Ireland; and Anne to Scotland.
Here, MailOnline looks at the programme of events over the four-day bank holiday weekend:
Drew, four, from Norwich, waves her Union flag on The Mall near Buckingham Palace, during a family day trip ahead of the Platinum Jubilee
Crowds line The Mall, in central London, to watch the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, ahead, where well-wishers are already camping out for the best spots to view the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Members of the Household Cavalry ride along The Mall, in London, ahead of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, with events starting from today
Crowds line The Mall, in central London, to watch the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, ahead, where well-wishers are already camping out for the best spots to view the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Participants were greeted by dark clouds and rain during the full rehearsal of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant that will take place on June 5
A man sells merchandise outside a shop near Windsor Castle ahead of celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee this weekend
Soldiers on parade during The Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade on May 28, 2022 in London
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards leads The Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade ahead of Trooping the Colour on Thursday
The Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards, on The Mall during the Colonel's Review in London last Saturday
English Heritage projects images of Her Majesty the Queen - one from each decade of her reign - onto Stonehenge's majestic stones to mark the historic occasion of Her Royal Highness becoming the first British monarch to commemorate a Platinum Jubilee
TODAY
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Cardiff Castle to meet performers and crew involved in the special Platinum Jubilee Celebration Concert taking place in the castle grounds later that afternoon, Buckingham Palace has announced.
During their visit, William and Kate will view rehearsals and meet some of the acts taking part in the celebrations, including Bonnie Tyler and Owain Wynn Evans.
Hosted by Aled Jones and Shan Cothi, the concert at Cardiff Castle will feature live performances from some of Wales' best-known singers and entertainers, alongside choirs, bands and orchestras.
During the extended bank holiday weekend, the Earl and Countess of Wessex will carry out two engagements in Northern Ireland while the Princess Royal, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, will visit Edinburgh.
Epsom Derby (from 4pm)
The Queen is no longer attending the Epsom Derby during her Platinum Jubilee weekend.
The 96-year-old monarch is said to want to pace herself during her milestone celebrations, with her daughter the Princess Royal representing her at the racecourse instead, The Sunday Times reported.
The Derby on Saturday June 4 was to be a personal highlight for the Queen during the four days of Jubilee festivities.
The head of state, a passionate horse owner and breeder, was due to be greeted on the course with a special guard of honour including up to 40 of her past and present jockeys.
People stand on The Mall looking towards Buckingham Palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial statue as the road is lined with Union Jacks
A message for Queen Elizabeth II is seen on a digital display as horses are walked through Piccadilly Circus in London today
A pedestrian passes a shop window adorned with Union flag-themed bunting, and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, in Colchester, eastern England
Hype Hair salon in Bermondsey, south east London, puts up Union Jack flags and a Platinum Jubilee flag of the Queen with red, white and blue balloons and bunting
A banner and face masks of members of the royal family are displayed in the window of the Blue Anchor pub in Hammersmith, London, to celebrate the forthcoming Platinum Jubilee of the Queen this weekend
The Floral Mini, King's Road Chelsea In Bloom floral displays in Chelsea for the Platinum Jubilee in London
Alan and Kelly Wakeling pose today at their market stall ALK Fruit and Veg on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, West London
Legoland modeller Paula Young poses for a photograph while completing a model of a scene at Buckingham Palace, at Legoland in Windsor
Lilibet's birthday
Saturday is also the first birthday of Harry and Meghan's daughter Lilibet, amid speculation the youngster could spend the day with her namesake great-grandmother.
The Sussexes are flying over from the US with Lili, who had never met the Queen in person before, and her older brother Archie. The Queen is reported to have already met Lilibet this weekend.
It could be the first time Harry and Meghan have been seen alongside the Windsor clan since Megxit and since they accused an unnamed senior royal of racism during their controversial Oprah Winfrey interview.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are flying over from the US with Lilibet and her brother Archie (pictured last December)
Party At The Palace (from 7.30pm)
In the evening, the BBC's Party at the Palace – set on three stages in front of Buckingham Palace – will entertain a live crowd of 22,000 people and a television audience of millions.
The line-up includes Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Nile Rodgers, Andrea Bocelli, Duran Duran, Bond composer Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow and George Ezra.
The show will also feature appearances from stars including Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry and Dame Julie Andrews.
Charles and William are preparing to deliver public tributes at the concert to the Queen, who will be watching on television from Windsor.
An artist's impression released earlier this month of the stage outside Buckingham Palace for the Platinum Party at the Palace
SUNDAY
Big Jubilee Lunch
Millions of people are expected to sit down with their neighbours at street parties, picnics and barbecues, with more than 200,000 Big Jubilee Lunches being held across the UK on the Sunday afternoon,
Camilla, patron of the Big Lunch, will join Charles at a flagship feast at The Oval cricket ground in south London, while the Earl and Countess of Wessex will meet people creating the 'Long Table' down on The Long Walk leading up to Windsor Castle.
The celebration also coincides with this year's Thank You Day – originally set up to pay tribute to those who helped people through the pandemic.
Celebrities Ross Kemp, Gareth Southgate, Prue Leith and Ellie Simmonds have urged people to throw the biggest thank you party for the Queen.
A Jubilee street party on June 3, 2012 on the bridge that connects Goring in Oxfordshire and Streatley in Berkshire
