Party with the stars to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee
IF you are not at your own Jubilee party this Saturday night, settle down in front of the TV for a live extravaganza from Buckingham Palace.
Superstars from the worlds of music and dance will be paying tribute to Her Majesty.
Hosts Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp will lead live coverage of the Platinum Party at the Palace, in which 22,000 people, including 7,500 key workers, members of the Armed Forces, volunteers and charity workers, will be in attendance to celebrate the Queen’s seven-decade reign.
The unique set consists of three stages, linked by walkways, which create a 360-degree experience in front of Buckingham Palace.
Linking the stages together are 70 columns representing Her Majesty’s reign that can be illuminated to provide a full formation of lights and beams.
Queen + Adam Lambert will open the spectacular concert with a very special one-off production which will no doubt summon memories of Brian May’s historic appearance on the Palace roof during the Golden Jubilee Concert in 2002.
Then, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow and George Ezra will share the three-stage set up with the likes of Duran Duran, Andrea Bocelli, Jax Jones, Celeste, Nile Rodgers, Sigala and dance group Diversity.
Fresh from placing second in Italy, the United Kingdom’s Eurovision hero Sam Ryder will also be performing live, and closing the two-anda-half hour show will be Motown legend and music icon Diana Ross.
It will be her first UK live performance in 15 years.
Stars from stage and screen, and the sporting world appearing at the event and on film will include Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry, Dame Julie Andrews, The Royal Ballet, and Ellie Simmonds, and there will be a specially recorded message from Sir Elton John.
The evening will pivot around global themes that have been born, or evolved, during the breadth of Her Majesty’s reign.
There is a tribute to extraordinary British and Commonwealth contributions in the fields of fashion, sport, and the environment, as well as a look back over 70 Years of pop music and musicals, curated by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.
There will also be a special appearance by Lord Lloyd Webber himself, with Lin-Manuel Miranda, plus performances from the casts of The
Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton, Six, The Lion King and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Speaking for Queen + Adam Lambert, Brian says: “Twenty years after playing The Queen’s glorious Golden Jubilee we’re very happy to be invited again. Then there was a moment when I wondered... after Buckingham Palace roof where can you go? Well... you will see!”
Diana Ross says: “I have had the honour of meeting The Queen many times throughout my life, including when I was with my family.
“Her Majesty has and continues to be such an incredible inspiration to so many across the world and I was absolutely delighted to receive an invitation to perform on such a momentous and historic occasion.”
on what to expect from the spectacular live show at Buckingham Palace
Platinum Party at the Palace is on BBC1, Saturday, at 7.30pm
■