Queen skipping annual Jubilee military salute for the first time in 70 years

The Queen's Jubilee Pageant as kicked off this afternoon, Sunday 5 June, as part of the 96 year old monarch's final Platinum Jubilee celebrations.The Pageant route starts from Whitehall, goes through Admiralty Arch, up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, around Queen Victoria Memorial and down Birdcage Walk, and will see a 6,000 strong performing cast from across the UK and Commonwealth, celebrating the Jubilee split into three acts. For the first act, the bells of Westminster Abbey peeled as they did on Coronation Day.The Gold State Coach, a poignant symbol of Coronation Day 70 years ago, was seen travelling through the streets of London for the first time in twenty years.

Cheeky comedian Lee Mack wasted no time in using the Queen's Platinum Jubilee as an opportunity to stick the knife in Boris Johnson – metaphorically of course.The northern comic, 53, opened the concert, which is being held outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, by making light of the so-called 'partygate' affair in Downing Street. Speaking with the Prime Minister in attendance, who was in the royal box, Mack said: "Finally we can say the words ‘party’ and ‘gate’ and it’s a positive." The joke drew cheers and laughs from the crowd.The embarrassing quip comes just a day after the PM was booed outside St Paul's Cathedral as he attended the Thanksgiving service with members of the Royal Family.

Members of the Royal Family are out in full force on Saturday as they continue to attend Platinum Jubilee events across the country ahead of tonight's Party at the Palace. From appearing together on Buckingham Palace' balcony for Trooping the Colour, to heading to St Paul's Cathedral for a Service of Thanksgiving, the family have now spread their wings to widen the Queen's celebrations across the UK. Anne, the Princess Royal, has arrived in Epsom for the Derby Day with her family after a quick trip to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.

celebrating 70 years as the British empire’s monarch with much pomp and circumstance right now — but that hasn’t drowned out the UK’s noisy fight for political change.If #AbolishTheMonarchy trending on Twitter the same day the four-day Platinum Jubilee launches is any indication, some Brits would like to see Elizabeth be the last monarch.The anti-monarchy group Republic has declared it would like to replace the royals with an elected head of state, especially as the unpopular — in some circles — Prince Charles would take over the throne once his mother dies.In January, Reuters reported that polls indicate the vast majority of people in Britain support the monarchy, and the queen herself is hugely popular. However, there is just not as much support for her eldest son and heir, Charles, and surveys suggest there is growing desire to “ditch the monarchy” among younger Britons.One wannabe activist tweeted on Thursday: “#AbolishTheMonarchy trending during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday is beautiful.”Other users called it “nice” and “very refreshing” to see the phrase trending during the queen’s celebratory festivities.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee with a sweet #TBT snapshot.The Beatles legend, 79, posted a classic photo Thursday of himself and the 96-year-old monarch posing together at the royal opening of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 1996.⁣The beloved rock icon captioned the image: “70 beautiful years of Queen Elizabeth the second. Congrats ma’am! And thanks.”In the smiling pic, the queen is seen looking on as she sports a bright baby-blue hat and dress while carrying a bouquet of white flowers.McCartney donned a dark suit and a blue-and-yellow patterned tie for the occasion.The pair had met decades prior to the ’90s event, having crossed paths in 1965.During the swinging ’60s, McCartney and his bandmates — Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison — were awarded with Member of the Order of the British Empire medals, better known as MBEs, by the sovereign at Buckingham Palace.McCartney was later knighted in 1997.The British queen celebrated 70 years since her coronation on June 2 with parties celebrating her Platinum Jubilee.

Queens Jubilee flyover Thursday after he was seen adorably covering his ears next to the Queen — among other cute antics — as planes soared over Buckingham Palace. The 4-year-old’s adorable display occurred after the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s youngest son joined his family on the famous balcony during the Jubilee flypast amid huge cheers from the crowd on The Mall.

Refresh for latest…: Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are under way this morning in London with the annual Trooping the Colour parade from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guard’s Parade to celebrate the monarch’s Official Birthday. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians are taking part.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be attending the Queen’s Trooping of the Colour for her Platinum Jubilee.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be receiving taxpayer-funded security in London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend, as it turns out.

Queen Elizabeth is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, which begins on June 2 and runs through the weekend, concluding on June 5.There will be days full of celebration and one man is helping to kick off the festivities. Bruno Peek is the Queen’s beacon pageant master who participated in the monarch’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees.

Brits up and down the country are ready to enjoy a long weekend of Platinum Jubilee celebrations to commemorate the Queen's 70 years on the throne. Street parties, live music outside Buckingham Palace, and a national beacon lighting ceremony illuminating specially-designed Jubilee structures in a global display are part of the huge celebrations. Meanwhile, staff at Buckingham Palace are "determined" to help the Queen reach the famous balcony for Trooping The Colour, with new lifts reportedly having been installed inside the 3,000-year-old palace.

All eyes will be on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they travel across the pond for the queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In May, a spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle confirmed that they’ll be heading to the UK with their son Archie and daughter Lilibet for the celebrations.The trip will mark the first time Lilibet, who was born in California a year ago, is in her father’s homeland. She will likely even celebrate her first birthday — June 4 — during the voyage.

A family affair. Prince William and Kate Middleton won’t be attending Prince Harry’s daughter’s Lilibet first birthday celebrations. Lilibet will be celebrating her first birthday away from her home state of California and in her dad’s home country of England.

So much for all that brotherly love. Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton are reportedly planning to miss their niece’s big first birthday!

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebration. A new music video was cut using footage from the performance video shot by Julien Temple at the marquee in May 1977 and clips of the Thames riverboat party on the Silver Jubilee day in June that same year. It also features exclusive footage of some of the earliest, most important and influential female fans of the band including Vivienne, Jordan, Debbie and Tracey, Catwoman and Helen of Troy.The song, with the same title as the British national anthem, was originally released in 1977 during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.