Summary

  • The Queen will not attend the National Service of Thanksgiving on Friday after experiencing 'discomfort' on Thursday

  • Her Majesty still participated in the beacon lighting event on Thursday evening

  • More than 3,500 beacons are being lit across the UK and in the capital cities of Commonwealth countries

  • The Queen came to the throne 70 years ago and is Britain's longest-reigning monarch

  • Earlier she appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace as huge crowds celebrated her Platinum Jubilee

  • The celebrations are spread over four days of events, and began with Trooping the Colour earlier today

  • Prince Harry and Meghan kept a low profile, but watched from a building overlooking the parade ground, close to Buckingham Palace

  • Meanwhile, Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son, has tested positive for Covid

Live Reporting

By Owen Amos and Doug Faulkner

  1. What are we expecting today?

    Final rehearsals for Trooping the Colour took place last weekend at Horse Guards Parade in LondonPA Media

    Final rehearsals for Trooping the Colour took place last weekend

    First up today is Trooping the Colour: a military parade in London for the Queen’s official birthday.

    The event - which starts at 10:00 BST - will culminate in a flypast of Buckingham Palace by the Royal Air Force at 13:00 BST.

    Crowds will try and glimpse the Queen making her traditional appearance on the balcony while the jets roar overhead.

    This evening, we’re expecting the lighting of the beacons in thousands of places across the UK and Commonwealth – something that’s featured in previous Jubilee celebrations.

    The Queen will lead the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon in a special ceremony at Windsor Castle.

  2. Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

    Preparations ahead of the first day of the Platinum Jubilee bank holidayReuters

    Hello and thanks for joining our live coverage of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

    On 6 February, Queen Elizabeth became the first British monarch to celebrate 70 years on the throne.

    This special long weekend has been planned to cap off festivities – with pageants, community events, street parties and plenty of pomp on the schedule.

    Up and down the country, there will be tens of thousands of jubilee lunches this weekend, with hundreds taking place internationally too.

    This Jubilee will be the Queen's first without her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April last year.

    Stay with us as we keep you updated on the celebrations.