Platinum Jubilee concert – live: Diana Ross leads grand finale at BBC celebration
The Queen’s platinum jubilee will be celebrated with a high-profile concert on Saturday evening (4 June).
Many renowned musicians and bands will perform as part of the Platinum Party at the Palace gig, which is being held by the BBC.
Twenty-two thousand people will attend the event, including 10,000 members of the public who won tickets in the public ballot, which closed on 23 March.
Over 7,500 tickets were designated for key workers, members of the armed forces, volunteers, and charities.
Find all the details on how to watch the concert, as well as full updates from the event, below – and updates from other jubilee events here.
Key Points
Queen and Adam Lambert begin the night with three rock hits
The Queen appears with Paddington Bear in a pre-recorded skit
Lee Mack ad-libs a dig at Boris Johnson while on stage
Rod Stewart covers Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’, the ‘official song of the jubilee'
George Ezra censors lyric about dying in ‘Green Green Grass'
Prince William appears on stage to give speech about the environment
Stephen Fry has another jab at British prime minister during appearance on stage
Saturday 4 June 2022 11:13 , Jacob Stolworthy
Hello, and welcome to our live blog for tonight’s Platinum Jubilee concert!
Saturday 4 June 2022 11:35 , Jacob Stolworthy
In case you haven’t noticed, the country is currently celebrating the Queen’s 70th year on the throne.
The BBC will mark this with a special concert featuring an array of many famous musicians.
Find out who will be performing here.
Saturday 4 June 2022 12:00 , Jacob Stolworthy
Many songs will be sung tonight – but we’re going to assume none of these will make a showing.
10 controversial songs about the Queen
Saturday 4 June 2022 12:20 , Jacob Stolworthy
Stars set to perform include Diana Ross, George Ezra, Alicia Keys and, of course, Queen + Adam Lambert.
Saturday 4 June 2022 12:50 , Jacob Stolworthy
On hosting duties for tonight’s concert will be Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp.
Saturday 4 June 2022 13:45 , Louis Chilton
In a turnout for the books, Sex Pistols star Johnny Rotten has said he says he “totally respects” the Queen as a person and is looking forward to this weekend’s jubilee celebrations.
The singer, whose band were famous for their anti-establishment lyrics, admitted he was “attracted to pageantry” and praised the monarch’s “sense of dignity”.
Read more...
Johnny Rotten says he ‘totally respects’ the Queen – but still hates the monarchy
Saturday 4 June 2022 14:30 , Louis Chilton
“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond has been voted as the song of the Platinum Jubilee by Radio 2 listeners.
Now, the nation is being called on to sing the track at street parties tomorrow.
Read more below...
Country asked to sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ at street parties for Queen’s Jubilee
Saturday 4 June 2022 15:00 , Louis Chilton
The stage is set...
The stage is ready for tonight’s Platinum Jubilee concert. pic.twitter.com/ga7KaLCBST
— Mark Savage (@mrdiscopop) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 15:45 , Louis Chilton
There’s still a few hours until the concert gets underway.
If you’re looking for something to watch, here are eight of the best films and TV shows about the queen that are available to stream on Netflix.
The best films and TV series about the Queen to watch on Netflix
Saturday 4 June 2022 16:15 , Louis Chilton
Sound of Music star Julie Andrews is among the celebs to have paid tribute to the queen during the jubilee.
“Your majesty, I well remember the beautiful radio speech you gave on your 21st birthday,” the Sound of Music star began in her tribute.
“You pledged yourself in service to the people of Britain and the Commonwealth. And I feel that in all the years since, you have never betrayed that promise.”
Read more...
Julie Andrews leads tributes to the Queen for platinum jubilee
Saturday 4 June 2022 16:45 , Louis Chilton
Anyone else remember this?
10 years ago @CherylOfficial performed at The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert with @GaryBarlow 🖤💎
pic.twitter.com/qBXeWSUMQ5— Cheryl Updates (@Cheryl__Updates) June 3, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:45 , Louis Chilton
Reactions from the duke and duchess of Cambridge.
What. A. Show. #PlatinumPartyatthePalace
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 17:30 , Louis Chilton
Tonight’s jubilee concert isn’t the first televised jubilee event we’ve had, of course.
Those who tuned into ITV a couple of weeks ago will remember when Tom Cruise showed his face at the celebrations.
According to Phillip Schofield, however, the Mission: Impossible star’s sudden appearance prompted ‘absolute chaos’ behind the scenes...
Tom Cruise ‘caused chaos’ at Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, says Phillip Schofield
Saturday 4 June 2022 18:00 , Louis Chilton
Among the acts performing tonight is Eurovision hero Sam Ryder.
Here’s what he said ahead of his appearance tonight...
Eurovision star Sam Ryder is ‘speechless’ about performing at the Jubilee concert
Saturday 4 June 2022 18:30 , Louis Chilton
We’ve all seen it happen – a room full of people launching into “God Save the Queen” at full volume, only to trail off after just a few lines when everyone realises they don’t know the lyrics.
Well, fear not: we’ve got you covered for the evening. See below for the full lyrics of “God Save the Queen”.
(This includes, of course, the verses that usually get left out. “Scatter our enemies... Frustrate their knavish tricks”? If you say so, mate.)
What are the lyrics to the National Anthem, ‘God Save the Queen’?
Saturday 4 June 2022 18:45 , Louis Chilton
Anticipation building next to the stage...
Very excited for the Jubilee Concert tonight! Having a break from willing on flowers! pic.twitter.com/ZTc8osLcWD
— Tom O'Leary 🇺🇦🌻 (@TomOleary72) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 19:00 , Louis Chilton
Once more, for those at the back...
Here’s who’s set to perform during tonight’s jubilee concert. Just half an hour to go now until the broadcast starts.
Who is performing at the Platinum Party at the Palace concert for the Jubilee?
Saturday 4 June 2022 19:19 , Louis Chilton
It’s almost time – a little over ten minutes until the event officially kicks off on BBC One.
Who are we most looking forward to seeing perform then?
Saturday 4 June 2022 19:30 , Louis Chilton
And it begins!
Saturday 4 June 2022 19:33 , Louis Chilton
Wait - no it doesn’t. We’ve got another half hour of build-up in the BBC coverage.
Lots of nice overhead shots of the crowd.
Saturday 4 June 2022 19:46 , Louis Chilton
A message from Dolly Parton:
“I just wanted to say thank you for being wonderful. You are more than pearls, and you are more than platinum.
“You have been a shining diamond in this world for so long. Everybody loves you, and I will always love you too.”
From one queen to another...
Saturday 4 June 2022 19:49 , Louis Chilton
The event tonight could hardly be placed in more capable hands: those of broadcasters Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp.
Here’s what you need to know about the jubilee concert’s hosts...
Who are are Platinum Jubilee hosts Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp?
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:01 , Louis Chilton
Ok, so... the queen’s having tea with Paddington Bear. She loves a skit, doesn’t she!
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:04 , Louis Chilton
The Queen tapping out the rhthym to “We Will Rock You” on a teacup.
Didn’t see that one coming.
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:07 , Louis Chilton
From “We Will Rock You” to “Don’t Stop Me Now”.
The crowd seem to be digging it.
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:09 , Louis Chilton
Made me chuckle this one...
Adam lambert is good and all but this performance is giving me Jack Black from school of rock vibes #PlatinumJubilee
— Divock Orgie (@bendevenish96) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:15 , Louis Chilton
“We are the Champions” segues into Lee Mack. You can loudly hear the echo from the speakers. Probably a reason they don’t use this spot for stand-up gigs more often...
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:18 , Louis Chilton
Here’s Lambert performing a few minutes ago.
Not a bad start to the evening, I suppose. You know what you’re going to get with Queen.
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:22 , Louis Chilton
Jax Jones bringing out some special guests for the occasion.
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:25 , Louis Chilton
If you missed the queen demostrating her acting skills in that Paddington bear sketch, Jacob Stolworthy has you covered...
The Queen shows off ‘cute’ acting skills with Paddington skit for jubilee concert
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:28 , Louis Chilton
Elbow is followed by Britain’s Got Talent dance troupe Diversity. They’re dancing to the Beatles currently.
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:29 , Louis Chilton
That was the Citizens of the World Refugee Choir singing with Elbow by the way.
We are thrilled to be joining @Elbow tomorrow for @BBCOne ’s #PlatinumPartyatthePalace.
As we prepare, we’d like to thank Guy Garvey for the opportunity to spread our kindness and culture through music. We can't wait to get on stage!#refugeeswelcome #jubilee #HM70 pic.twitter.com/1MqxSh8nCJ— Citizens of the World Refugee Choir 🧡 (@CotWChoir) June 3, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:34 , Louis Chilton
Diversity’s medley tribute to 70 years of British pop music is followed by Craig David. Does he sound slightly sharp to anyone else?
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:35 , Louis Chilton
That said, nothing but love for his sparkly attire.
Anyone know where Craig David's sequin tracksuit is from? Asking for a friend. #PlatinumJubileeConcert
— Amy Jo McLellan (@AmyJoSays) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:40 , Louis Chilton
Another moment you might have missed in this whirlwind of acts – Lee Mack’s crack about Boris Johnson.
Lee Mack makes ad-libbed Boris Johnson joke during Jubilee concert
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:44 , Louis Chilton
Musical theatre mavens Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lin-Manuel Miranda singing a back-patty little duet now. This is followed by a number from Hamilton.
Hamilton of course not exactly huge on the British monarchy...
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:48 , Louis Chilton
From Hamilton to Phantom... we’ve got a full-blown musical theatre medley on our hands.
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:55 , Louis Chilton
People generally seem to be digging this section on social media!
Queens Jubilee concert - what a celebration! Lion King is hard to knock!! 🇬🇧 👑
— Keith Scott (@scoke83) June 4, 2022
After Phantom, we had The Lion King, then Six. Now Technicolour Dream Coat. All in all a rather furious mix of different musical styles and vibes this evening. And we’ve still a long way to go.
Saturday 4 June 2022 20:58 , Louis Chilton
Daniel Craig, Paul McCartney and Michelle Obama pay tribute to the Queen in pre-recorded little videos.
Then Sam Ryder comes out with his Eurovision bop “Space Man”
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:02 , Louis Chilton
Pretty good, wasn’t he? I thought so, at least.
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:04 , Louis Chilton
George Ezra on at the moment. Definitely one of the most-hyped acts before this event started.
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:07 , Louis Chilton
Now he’s playing “Shotgun”. Not quite underneath the hot sun, though – starting to get rather dark out.
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:11 , Louis Chilton
Real blast from the past as Rod Stewart takes the stage.
Rod Stewart is everyone’s drunk auntie at a wedding reception #PlatinumPartyatthePalace
— Mal (@MetalMal) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:14 , Louis Chilton
Rod’s now covering Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’, which was recently voted the official song of the jubilee by Radio 2 listeners.
A reminder, in case you missed it...
Country asked to sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ at street parties for Queen’s Jubilee
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:19 , Louis Chilton
Jessica Ennis-Hill and Tom Daley introduced after a verse from Doc Brown. Little bit wooden, this duo – but maybe we needed a breather...
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:22 , Louis Chilton
Andrea Bocelli out now singing “Nessun Dorma”. We’ve had everything from rap, to pop, to opera this evening... organisers really running the full gamut of the musical spectrum.
Say what you will, though – this is a banger.
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:25 , Louis Chilton
Now it’s back to rock/pop, with some good old Duran Duran.
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:29 , Louis Chilton
Here’s an interesting one I missed – George Ezra censoring the lyrics to “Green Green Grass” to avoid the line about “throwing a party on the day I die”.
Can’t be too careful I suppose.
George Ezra censors own song lyric about dying during Queen’sJubilee Concert
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:35 , Louis Chilton
More video tributes, then Alicia Keys. Got to say, the stage turnarounds here have been pretty impressive. They’re rattling through it.
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:41 , Louis Chilton
Keys giving what has to be one of the standout performances of the night.
Alicia Keys performance and the lighting is stealing the night by a bloody mile #PlatinumPartyatthePalace pic.twitter.com/CqxOuNXlOc
— Paul Martin (@RealPaulMartin) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:44 , Louis Chilton
David Attenborough now being projected onto the edifice of the palace. If we picked our heads of state with a public vote tomorrow, I reckon Attenborough would have a pretty decent chance at becoming king...
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:46 , Louis Chilton
Ballet dancers move around to the theme from Planet Earth, while nature footage is projected onto the front of Buckingham Palace. I can’t say I really know what to make of it all.
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:52 , Louis Chilton
Prince William has now come out, after being given a hearty (pre-recorded) pat on the back from his grandmother for his work in the field of environmental issues.
He’s giving a speech. Nice to have a break from the remorseless churn of musical acts tbh.
Saturday 4 June 2022 21:54 , Louis Chilton
This is followed by Celeste, singing “What a Wonderful World”. Quite a radical re-interpretation, I think!
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:00 , Louis Chilton
More tributes – including David Beckham, Judi Dench, and then Elton John, who’s now playing a version of “Your Song” over video.
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:02 , Louis Chilton
Like the nature footage before him, John’s being projected onto the front of Buckingham Palace, which really does look quite majestic in a wide shot.
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:04 , Louis Chilton
Another little dig at the Prime Minister from Stephen Fry, who stands before a ginormous Union Flag. It doesn’t get much more British than this...
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:08 , Louis Chilton
Charles and Camilla now on stage. The duke of Cambridge is addressing the crowd.
First proper acknowledgment of the elephant in the room – the queen’s unfortunate absence.
He makes a crack about “It’s Coming Home”... someone clearly wasn’t watching the Hungary game tonight.
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:13 , Louis Chilton
“God Save Our Queen” is followed by Sigala and Ella Eyre.
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:19 , Louis Chilton
Diana Ross!
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:21 , Louis Chilton
Sound mixing letting her down a bit here, can’t really hear her voice over the orchestration.
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:25 , Louis Chilton
I’m not the only one who thought so!
Sadly, Diana Ross's microphone is turned way down, and what we hear is the backing singers.😔
— Сер Пітер Лорд 🇺🇦 😎🇬🇧🇪🇺🌍 (@peter_lord) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:31 , Louis Chilton
More details on that Stephen Fry jab at Boris Johnson.
Stephen Fry’s prime minister comment draws gasps from Jubilee concert crowd
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:32 , Louis Chilton
They think it’s all over... it is now!
That’s curtains for the jubilee concert. (At least as far as BBC One coverage goes. I’m sure the night is still young for the many faithful royalists swarming the Mall.)
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:44 , Louis Chilton
Here’s a look at some of the footage from that elaborate drone display earlier.
THIS #PlatinumJubilee pic.twitter.com/4hDSORnF3n
— Victoria Murphy (@byQueenVic) June 4, 2022
You wouldn’t guess the country was in the grip of a terrible cost of living crisis – the celebrations here were certainly all-out.
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:47 , Louis Chilton
What. A. Show. #PlatinumPartyatthePalace
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 22:56 , Louis Chilton
A look at some of the mess that’s been left after the concert. People have at least held onto their flags, it seems
🤫 Shh… no one tell the Queen about the mess in The Mall#PlatinumPartyatthePalace pic.twitter.com/kfM8SyIRPQ
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) June 4, 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022 23:10 , Louis Chilton
Gonna run through some of the most interesting points of the night, while things are winding down.
We’ve got a full review of the event coming too in a bit.
First up, there was, for many, the highlight of the evening – queen Elizabeth’s surprise meeting with Paddington Bear.
The Queen shows off ‘cute’ acting skills with Paddington skit for jubilee concert
Sunday 5 June 2022 00:01 , Louis Chilton
Lee Mack took aim at Boris Johnson with a joke that he seemingly ad-libbed...
Lee Mack cracks Partygate joke in front of Boris Johnson during Jubilee concert
Sunday 5 June 2022 00:44 , Louis Chilton
George Ezra censored a lyric in “Green Green Grass” about dying during a party.
George Ezra censors own song lyric about dying during Queen’s Jubilee Concert
01:10 , Louis Chilton
Mark Beaumont’s review of the entire programme – well worth a read.
“For two and a half hours, three stages set up in front of the palace gates churn out acts without a second’s pause. Each performer is cranked up to 130 per cent and crams all of their most stirring showstoppers into their few precious minutes onstage.
“Whoever programmed the bill must have done so on heavy-duty stimulants; it’s as if they ripped names from their cast list and flung them at the schedule in a frenzy, intent on creating a show that resembled the 2012 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies playing simultaneously.”
Read the full review here:
The jubilee concert was an utterly bizarre barrage of random entertainment – review
01:30 , Louis Chilton
Stephen Fry took another pop at BoJo...
Stephen Fry’s prime minister comment draws gasps from Jubilee concert crowd
02:15 , Louis Chilton
On top of this, we had performances from Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Rod Stewart, and many, many more.
Princes Charles and William both took to the stage at different points, and Elton John played a song over video link.
What did you think of the event? Let us know in the comments below.
03:00 , Louis Chilton
This live blog is now on hold.
See below for information on what happened during the jubilee extravaganza. Thanks for reading!
08:13 , Isobel Lewis
Thanks for tuning in last night folks – here’s our review of last night’s madness!
The Jubilee concert was an utterly bizarre barrage of random entertainment – review
