Ticket holders queue for up to 12 hours ahead of star-studded Party at the Palace TONIGHT

The Queen has delighted thousands and thousands of viewers by showing in a shock comedian sketch with Paddington Bear to kick-start the Jubilee live performance.

The monarch and the well-known bear – each a lot beloved British establishments – tapped out the beat of the We Will Rock You anthem collectively on china teacups utilizing silver spoons as a singular manner of getting the celebrations underneath manner.

The live performance is the spotlight of the third day of public occasions to mark the 96-year-old monarch’s record-breaking Platinum Jubilee with 22,000 folks in attendance outdoors Buckingham Palace.

Motown legend Diana Ross, performing for the first time in Britain in 15 years, is a star attraction at the occasion, which is being held on a purpose-built 360-degree stage outdoors the queen’s central London residence. 

With the particular, secretly-pre-recorded humorous two-and-a-half-minute sequence performed at the begin of the televised BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace, the unlikely duo set the rhythm for opening act Queen + Adam Lambert – who joined in on the essential stage.

Elizabeth II and the digitally animated character met for a chaotic cream tea at ‘Buckingham Palace’ in the footage, with the Queen revealing she shares Paddington’s love of marmalade sandwiches and retains an emergency stash in her trademark purse.

The duffle-coat sporting bear confirmed the Queen how he ensured he all the time had his favorite deal with on him simply in case, lifting up his crimson hat to reveal his snack.

The Queen responded by revealing ‘So do I’ earlier than opening her bag and declaring ‘I maintain mine in right here’ to present her very personal ready-made provide of the bread and orange protect staple.

Accident-prone Paddington was proven inflicting mayhem by by chance depriving the understanding sovereign of one other cup of tea and spraying cream from a chocolate eclair over a Palace Footman.

The bear from deepest darkest Peru congratulated the Queen on her reign of 70 years, saying: ‘Happy Jubilee Ma’am. And thanks. For the whole lot.’

The modest Queen replied: ‘That’s very sort.’

It introduced again reminiscences of the Queen’s James Bond skit for the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, when the monarch met 007, performed by Daniel Craig, after which appeared to parachute into the stadium, with the assist of a physique double.

Paddington and the Queen have been pictured sat reverse one another in ornate chair at a desk, laid for afternoon tea, lined with a white linen material in an opulent room.

Buckingham Palace mentioned the Queen felt the alternative to invite Paddington to tea was ‘too enjoyable to miss’.

The Palace mentioned: ‘Her Majesty is well-known for her sense of humour, so it needs to be no shock that she determined to participate in tonight’s sketch.

‘There was an curiosity in the filming and animation course of and the alternative to invite a well-known bear to tea was simply an excessive amount of enjoyable to miss.

‘While The Queen is probably not attending the live performance in individual, she was very eager that folks understood how a lot it meant to her and that each one these watching had a good time.’

The movie was saved underneath wraps for a number of months by Buckingham Palace, BBC Studios and Heyday Films/StudioCanal.

Actor Ben Whishaw voice Paddington, simply as he did in the hit motion pictures of the kids’s story.

Those concerned in the movie, which was really shot at Windsor Castle, praised the Queen’s wit and heat throughout the course of, saying she shone and put all of them at ease.

The Royal Family are out in pressure this night together with tens of hundreds of followers at the star-studded Party at the Palace occasion – however the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can be lacking.

Among the royal attendees at Saturday’s star-studded dwell Jubilee live performance, staged in entrance of Buckingham Palace, are the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince Charles and Prince William are set to take centre stage in entrance of a crowd of 22,000 to pay tribute to the Queen throughout the star-studded Jubilee live performance. 

The father and son – each future kings – will communicate individually in honour of the monarch in direction of the finish of the BBC’s open-air Party at the Palace present, staged in the entrance of Buckingham Palace.

Clarence House and Kensington Palace introduced each Charles and William would tackle the crowds at the excessive profile occasion, which falls on the third night of the four-day Jubilee festivities.  

But Harry and Meghan, whose daughter Lilibet is celebrating her first birthday, is not going to be amongst these in the royal field.

A spokesperson for the couple, who stepped down as senior royals in 2020, mentioned they have been spending the day privately.

Others in attendance embody Diana Ross and Alicia Keys are the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their kids Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Anne’s son Peter Phillips is joined by his kids Savannah and Isla, whereas Zara and Mike Tindall, who spent the day at the Epsom Derby with Anne and Sir Tim, will even be there.

The Queen’s cousins – the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent – with the Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Michael of Kent – and Princess Margaret’s daughter Lady Sarah Chatto and her household are additionally in attendance, together with a quantity of different prolonged relations.

Political leaders who’ve been pictured arriving up to now this night embody Prime Minister Boris Johnson with spouse Carrie, Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford. 

Eurovision star Sam Ryder and Diversity’s Ashley Banjo are amongst the stars praising the Queen’s service ahead of their performances this night.

The particular occasion can be opened by Queen + Adam Lambert, whereas soul singer Diana Ross will shut the live performance, which can be broadcast dwell on BBC One on Saturday night.

Ryder, who was runner-up in the latest Eurovision tune contest whereas representing the UK, is amongst the star-studded line-up who will entertain a dwell crowd of 22,000 folks and a tv viewers of thousands and thousands.

Speaking backstage about the monarch’s 70 years on the throne, Ryder, 32, mentioned he feels it’s ‘so selfless to give your total life to that service’.

He added: ‘How many of us might say that we might try this? It’s breathtaking. The manner that she carries herself, it reminds us that power will be mild.

‘I believe that is so essential, to me all the time. To carry your self in a manner the place you are bringing so many individuals collectively in unity and solidarity however doing it with such a delicate kindness.’

The singer revealed that he acquired the name to do the Jubilee live performance whereas on the bus residence from Eurovision final month, which left him feeling like he was ‘overflowing with pleasure’.

Banjo, 33, can be performing together with his dance troupe Diversity throughout the live performance, teasing that in honour of the historic event they are going to be doing ‘one thing particular’ and ‘totally different’ which displays throughout historical past whereas additionally wanting to the future.

He additionally mentioned that to describe the Queen as an ‘icon’ is an understatement, including: ‘She’s simply an especially particular individual, such a singular human for the nation and the world.’

Brian May mentioned that he hopes the collaboration of Queen + Adam Lambert can ‘pull off one thing epic’ when opening the present this night.

The 74-year-old guitarist created a basic second 20 years in the past throughout the 2002 Golden Jubilee celebrations when he carried out God Save The Queen on Buckingham Palace’s roof.

Speaking backstage, May mentioned: ‘We’re exceedingly honoured and exceedingly blissful to be right here, it means quite a bit to us.

‘We have been right here 20 years in the past for the Golden Jubilee and it is nice to be requested again.

‘And we like to convey one thing particular each time, so we’ll see if we will pull off one thing epic tonight.’

He added that he does really feel a ‘little bit of stress’ this time round, however famous that the band enjoys the problem of creating occasions which can be memorable.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor described the band’s opening set of the Platinum Party at the Palace as a ‘feel-good’ second to take folks’s minds off the distress of covid.

He informed the BBC’s Roman Kemp: ‘This is a brief feel-good set and we wish to convey pleasure and actually kick off the proceedings with an enormous kick-off.

‘This is a second of jubilation in spite of everything the distress we have been via and which we can’t discuss.’

The band’s visitor lead singer Adam Lambert praised the Queen’s ‘swish and highly effective presence.’

He informed the BBC: ‘We’re prepared to go. To be a visitor of the United Kingdom for the Jubilee, it is an enormous honour.

‘From what I’ve realized about the Queen, much more so in the final couple of years being an American, [she’s an] spectacular girl with a swish and highly effective presence on this nation.

‘I’m thrilled, I’m thrilled to be right here to have fun.’

Broadcasters Roman Kemp and Kirsty Young will lead the BBC’s dwell protection of the occasion, which is being broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio 2.

Reflecting on the Queen’s reign, Kemp, 29, mentioned: ‘People do not perceive the precise service that will get put in generally, I believe.

‘Over that quantity of time, the issues that she’s finished for the nation, in phrases of bringing consciousness to sure causes, bringing consciousness to issues that want to be shouted about and having the ability to again it up, whether or not or not it’s funds or press or no matter, it has been wonderful.’

He additionally famous the tourism that the monarch brings to the UK, including: ‘She principally travels to nations throughout the world displaying who we’re as Brits and that is one thing that ought to by no means be snubbed and it needs to be celebrated.’

The Royal Ballet will even characteristic throughout the particular live performance, with ballet dancer Lauren Cuthbertson saying it’s ‘the most unimaginable feeling’ to have been chosen to carry out in honour of the Queen.

The live performance, being held outdoors Buckingham Palace, additionally options performances from Duran Duran, Craig David, Alicia Keys and Sir Rod Stewart.

Other well-known faces from the worlds of sport, stage and display who’re half of the occasion embody Sir David Attenborough, tennis star Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry and Dame Julie Andrews, with the night additionally that includes a specifically recorded efficiency from Sir Elton John.

George Ezra hailed the Queen’s 70-year reign as sovereign as ‘admirable’ and ‘mindblowing’ ahead of performing at the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace live performance.

The singer, 28, mentioned he feels ‘very flattered’ to be amongst the line-up, noting that this occasion will rank in his career highlights alongside enjoying the essential stage at Glastonbury.

Reflecting on the Queen’s reign backstage at the occasion, Ezra mentioned: ‘I used to be watching the different day a clip that sort of confirmed each prime minister that she has labored with, and that is my ignorance, however I simply hadn’t realised how far again it was.

‘And then after we take into consideration the undeniable fact that that is the seventieth Jubilee, that is unbelievable as a result of of course in my life, she can have all the time been the monarch.

‘I believe it is admirable, I believe it is mind-blowing really.’

Andrea Bocelli has mentioned that when he beforehand met the Queen, he thought she was ‘very sensible’ and ‘sort’.

Speaking backstage at the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace live performance, the Italian operatic tenor, 63, mentioned that he additionally actually preferred the monarch’s accent.

Composer Hans Zimmer has recalled by chance insulting the Queen when he was a baby, and joked that if she remembers this he is perhaps lower from the Platinum Party at the Palace programme.

Speaking backstage at the occasion, he mentioned: ‘I’ve met her a pair of instances. I keep in mind after I was tiny, after I was three or 4 years previous, and I type of insulted her.

‘Because I used to be launched to her and I seemed at her and I stared at her and I mentioned: ‘You’re not the Queen,’ and he or she goes: ‘Why not?’ And I say: ‘You’re not sporting a crown,’ which to a three-year-old makes excellent sense.

‘So possibly she remembers – possibly I’m going to get lower out of the programme tonight.’

The Oscar-winning composer additionally revealed that he is aware of the Queen is a pianist and hopes that she and the entire nation enjoys the particular Jubilee live performance.