Third day of platinum jubilee celebrations as Queen misses Epsom Derby

Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that the monarch, 96, would pull out of attending the Epsom Derby, where she is being officially represented by her daughter. The Queen is expected to watch the event on television instead.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Cardiff earlier on Saturday, along with Princess George and Princess Charlotte, where they visited rehearsals for a jubilee concert at Cardiff Castle.

William, Kate and their children were to meet performers and crew taking part in the event, including the Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler.

About 22,000 people are expected to attend an open-air concert outside Buckingham Palace this evening, featuring Diana Ross, the Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli and the James Bond composer Hans Zimmer. Millions more will be watching from home.

Alicia Keys, Queen + Adam Lambert and the Eurovision 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder will also perform at the two-and-a-half-hour event called Platinum Party at the Palace, and there will be a specially recorded appearance from Elton John.

The Prince of Wales and his eldest son, Prince William, will pay tribute to the Queen, who is not expected to attend in person but will watch on television from Windsor Castle.

The Queen made two public appearances to huge crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony on Thursday and attended a beacon-lighting ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Her no-show at Epsom is only the fourth time the keen horse racing fan, rider and breeder has missed the Derby since 1952. Covid restrictions prevented her from attending in 2020.

On Sunday more than 10 million people will take part in Big Jubilee Lunch picnics and there will be a musical and creative public pageant involving 10,000 people.

The BBC will broadcast Platinum Party at the Palace live on radio, television and online from 7pm.