It’s Thriller Queen for party at the Palace
IT WAS a party fit for a Queen!
Even surprise guests Prince George and Princess Charlotte could not hide their delight as they waved their Union flags while thousands packed into The Mall to rock to the Platinum Party at the Palace concert last night.
And Her Majesty brought the house down with her own party when she was joined for a cream tea by another national treasure – Paddington Bear – for a short introductory film that was kept under wraps until 8pm.
The Queen, known for her love of jokes, had famously made an appearance with James Bond for the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.
The Paddington sketch ran seamlessly into the music opener by Queen +
Adam
Lambert, with legendary guitarist Brian
May appearing on a platform that raised from the ground in front of Buckingham
Palace through the first number, We Will Rock You.
The young royals were sitting at the front of the Royal Box between their parents. Charlotte clapped along with Kate, and then she and brother George waved their flags along to the iconic song We Are The Champions.
Also in the Royal Box with members of the Royal Family were Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and wife Victoria.
In front of the PM, concert host comedian Lee Mack told the audience: “Finally, we can say the words ‘party’ and ‘gate’ and it’s a positive”, which drew cheers and laughs from the crowd.
Mack then replicated former Queen frontman Freddie
Mercury’s “Ay-oh” chant with the crowd, prompting laughs from the Duke of Cambridge and George and Charlotte.
Ashley Banjo and his dance troupe Diversity performed using a number of British songs popular throughout the Queen’s reign.
And rapper and singer Craig David opened his set with a tribute to the Queen. “Congratulations to Her Majesty for her 70 years of service,” he said. He then performed his songs Ain’t Giving Up, Re-rewind and Fill Me In. Andrew Lloyd Webber, who put together a selection of musicals, said it was “almost impossible to put into words” everything the Queen has done for the UK.
Introducing five hit musical performances including Hamilton, Six, The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera, he said: “Your Majesty, your reign has outrun any theatre in history, an extraordinary achievement.”
Singer George Ezra added he felt “very flattered” to be among the line-up, which included the legendary Diana Ross and the UK’S Eurovision star Sam Ryder who sang Space Man, changing the lyrics to “Space Ma’am” at one point in tribute to the Queen.
Ezra, 28, said: “I was watching the other day a clip that kind of showed every prime minister that she has worked with, and this is my ignorance, but I just hadn’t realised how far back it was.
“And then when we think about the fact that this is the 70th Jubilee, that’s unbelievable because of course, in my life, she will have always been the monarch. I think it’s admirable.”