Day three of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations has closed with quite a show in front of Buckingham Palace.
The Party at the Palace concert kicked off at 8pm local time, with the line-up including Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Diana Ross, Alicia Keys and Hans Zimmer.
In case you weren’t awake at 5am AEST to follow the action, here’s a wrap of some of the key moments.
Paddington Bear met the Queen
The concert opened with a skit of the Queen sitting down to tea with fellow British icon Paddington Bear.
Despite being characteristically polite and well-meaning, poor Paddington made a bit of a mess of the spread.
The ever-prepared bear offered the Queen an emergency marmalade sandwich — something he keeps stashed in his hat — but it turned out that was unnecessary.
That’s because the Queen also keeps such essential provisions on hand at all times.
Now we know why she’s always carrying around a handbag even when she has people to hold her things for her.
Lee Mack made a Partygate joke
Late last month saw the release of a scathing report into a series of parties held at British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official residence while the UK was under a strict COVID-19 lockdown.
The scandal, dubbed Partygate, prompted fierce criticism and calls for the British PM to resign. In fact, Mr Johnson was booed on his arrival at the Platinum Jubilee thanksgiving service on Friday.
Comedian Lee Mack referenced the Partygate affair while on stage. Here’s what he said:
“Welcome to the Platinum Party at the Palace!
“We are here right outside the gates of Buckingham Palace for the party of a lifetime.
“And I tell you what, finally we can say the words “party” and “gate” and it’s a positive.
“That wasn’t in the autocue …”
Mr Johnson was in the audience.
There were a few Queen references
The first came in the form of a performance by Queen (the band, that is) with Adam Lambert on vocals.
They played We Will Rock You and Don’t Stop Me Now, with military drummers adding something a bit extra to the performance.
Guitarist Brian May really drove the whole “queen” reference home by popping up above the stage in front of the Queen Victoria statue:
Later in the concert, Sam Ryder played Space Man — the song that earned him second place in the Eurovision Song Contest.
But he tweaked the words slightly, singing “space ma’am” as a nod to the Queen.
Drones lit up the sky
It wasn’t all about what was happening on stage.
Some carefully coordinated drones took to the sky to produce some rather regal images above Buckingham Palace.
Prince Charles paid tribute to ‘Mummy’ and ‘Papa’
The Queen’s son and future king Prince Charles took to the stage to pay tribute to his mother as images of the monarch were projected on the walls of Buckingham Palace.
Joined on stage by his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the prince spoke about the monarch’s “strength and stay” and said his “Papa”, Prince Philip, was much missed.
“But I’m sure he’s here in spirit,” he said.
Here’s more of what he said:
“Your Majesty … Mummy, the scale of this evening’s celebration and the outpouring of warmth and affection over this whole Jubilee weekend is our way of saying thank you — thank you from your family, the country, the Commonwealth, in fact, the whole world.
“On behalf of us all, I wanted to pay my own tribute to your lifetime of selfless service — in pictures, in words and in light.
At this point, waved his hand and the palace lit up with spotlights.
He went on:
“I know what really gets my mother up in the morning is all of you, ladies and gentlemen.
“All of you watching at home, represented here tonight in this great audience.
“Your Majesty, you’ve been with us in our difficult times, and you bring us together to celebrate moments of pride, joy and happiness. Maybe this year it really is coming home.
“You have met us and talked with us. You laugh and cry with us. And most importantly, you have been there for us for these 70 years.
“You pledged to serve your whole life. You continue to deliver. That is why we are here. That is what we celebrate tonight.
“These pictures on your house are the story of your life and ours.
“So, Your Majesty, that is why we all say thank you.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I know the Queen is watching these celebrations with much emotion — having, I hope, finished her marmalade sandwich — including immense regret that she cannot be here in person with us this evening.
But Windsor Castle is barely 20 miles away so if we cheer loudly enough she might, might just hear us. So let’s all join together.”
A cheer erupted from the crowd as more lights flashed around the palace.
Prince William called for climate action
The Queen’s grandson, Prince William, also fronted the crowd.
As the second heir to the throne, the Duke of Cambridge used his time on stage to look to the future with a sense of optimism.
Here’s what he said:
“Well, no-one’s grandmother thanks them for talking about their age. My own grandmother has been alive for nearly a century.
“In that time, mankind has benefited from unimaginable technological developments and scientific breakthroughs.
“And although those breakthroughs have increased our awareness of the impacts humans have on our world, our planet has become more fragile.
“Today, in 2022, as the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, the pressing need to protect and restore our planet has never been more urgent. But like her, I am an optimist.
“Decades of making the case for taking better care of our world has meant that environmental issues are now at the top of the global agenda.
“More and more businesses and politicians are answering the call. And perhaps most inspiringly, the cause is now being spearheaded by an amazing and united generation of young people across the world.
”When humankind focuses its minds, anything is possible. It’s my firm hope that my grandmother’s words are as true in 70 years’ time as they are tonight.
“That as nations, we come together in common cause. Because then there is always room for hope.
“Tonight has been full of such optimism and joy. And there is hope together if we harness the very best of humankind and restore our planet, we will protect it for our children, for our grandchildren, and for future generations to come.
“They will be able to say with pride at what’s been achieved, ‘What a wonderful world.'”
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