Why is the Queen not attending Friday's Jubilee celebrations? Everything you need to know

The Queen did her best to attend what she could of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations over the weekend.

Meghan Markle reportedly shared some comforting words to her husband Prince Harry during Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled from their home of Montecito, California, with their children Archie, three, and Lilibet, two, to attend several events in honour of the Queen's 70-year reign. After watching the Trooping of the Colour from a window in Buckingham Palace, the couple attended the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral as the Queen rested at home following some "discomfort".

The Queen has shared a message of heartfelt thanks with all the people around the world who have come together to help mark her Platinum Jubilee. The 96 year old monarch celebrated 70 momentous years on the throne as part of a four day celebration that brought together tens of thousands of people from across the entire Commonwealth. From street parties and military parades, through to colourful carnivalesque performances and live musical acts from some of the biggest names, the four day long celebration has encapsulated the respect and appreciation so many people have for the long reigning monarch who has touched so many of their lives.

American-British singer Celeste wowed viewers during the Platinum Party at the Palace with her chilling rendition of What A Wonderful World, but who is the 28 year old star? She joined the ranks of some of the biggest names in music, including Diana Ross, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys, on stage as the nation said "thank you, ma'am" with a series of musical, theatrical and comedy performances. Celeste, accompanied by composer Hans Zimmer, sang her heart out in a cover of Louis Armstrong’s famous track while millions of people looked on. A user praised the vocalist on Twitter: “Kudos to Celeste at #PlatinumPartyatthePalace.

Queen Elizabeth made a surprise appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Sunday, marking the official end of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The 96-year-old monarch was dressed in a green coat with a matching hat as she surprised the crowd.The royal -- who has not been spotted out in person since Thursday -- held on to a cane as she smiled and waved to the crowd. Her Majesty was joined on the balcony by her son, Prince Charles, daughter-in-law, Camila, Duchess of Cornwall, and her grandson, Prince William, his wife, Kate Middleton, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

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.

Dolly Parton kicked off the Party at the Palace with a heartfelt message to the Queen. Appearing via video link, the country singer could be seen dressed in a rhinestone-encrusted black turtleneck and sat in a yellow high-backed chair. MORE: Party at the Palace LIVE: Prince William & Prince Charles prepare for tributeHowever, eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted that in the background of the shot, Dolly had placed a framed photo of the very first time she met the monarch - during another Jubilee celebration!WATCH: Dolly Parton sends special message to The QueenThe Queen of Country and the, well, actual Queen met backstage at a theatre in Glasgow over 45 years ago on 17 May 1977 during the latter's Diamond Jubilee tour.MORE: 15 Jubilee sales that are SO royally good they'll have you cheeringMORE: Dolly Parton shares heartwarming message after receiving award she initially rejectedTo mark the 25th anniversary of her coronation, the royal embarked on a tour across the UK which included a stop in Glasgow for a special Jubilee Gala Performance at the King's Theatre, where Dolly, along with the likes of the Jackson 5, Sydney Devine, and Frankie Howard entertained the monarch.

Zara Tindall has shared an update on her grandmother Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after she pulled out of attending the Epsom Derby Festival today on Saturday 4 June. The 41 year old arrived at the venue in the south of England looking gorgeous in a vibrant blue dress, which she teamed with a matching hat and silver accessories. She was accompanied by her husband Mike, 43, who looked dapper in a grey suit, as well as her mum Princess Anne, 71, who donned an off-white checked dress for the occasion.

Kim Kardashian may be something of a royal here in the States, but does that mean she gets — or even wants — access to the British royal family’s most lavish events??

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJohn Lydon — a.k.a. Johnny Rotten, lead singer of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd. — has written a brief and to-the-point editorial for the U.K.’s Times that ranges from his thoughts on the royal family to his wife’s struggle with Alzheimers, from Danny Boyle’s new biopic “Pistol” (which he fought legally) and his early struggles with fame.While the London-born Lydon, who has lived in Los Angeles for decades, courted controversy in recent years with statements in support of former President Trump, the editorial finds him as direct and unsentimental as ever.Yet the most striking statements are him effectively contradicting the world-shattering statements he made in the Sex Pistols’ first two singles, which laid the template for much of punk rock’s ethos: In it, he says “anarchy is a terrible idea” (defying the group’s first single, “Anarchy in the U.K.”) and “God bless the Queen,” which reverts the withering sarcasm of the group’s second single, “God Save the Queen” (“and the fascist regime”) as Britain observes Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.

Day two of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations have kicked off as Royals have started arriving for the Service of Thanksgiving. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her 70-year reign with the four-day weekend. And while she was in attendance for the Trooping of the Colour, she will be watching the televised Service of Thanksgiving from the comfort of her Windsor Castle home due to some "discomfort" from the day before.

It’s safe to say nobody was too concerned about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s absence on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Thursday morning! They can thank Prince Louis for that!! And for good reason!

Barack Obama is virtually joining the Platinum Jubilee celebration. Obama sent a video message to Queen Elizabeth II to congratulate her on her 70th anniversary as a queen.“May the light of your crown continue to reign supreme,” Obama said during the BBC broadcast of Trooping the Colour. “When you’re president of the United States, you meet a lot of remarkable people, and you try under all circumstances to retain your composure,” the 44th president began his message.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not join the rest of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour — but they didn’t have a choice.

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.

This week 45 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Silver Jubilee and as Her Majesty begins celebrations for her record-breaking Platinum Jubilee, our eyes turn to the Official Singles Chart of 1977...and one of the most controversial chart races in the history of the Official Charts. 

Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee this weekend in recognition of her 70-year rule over the United Kingdom and its 14 Commonwealth nations. She will be the first-ever British monarch to reach a seven-decade milestone, after already becoming the country's longest-reigning monarch in 2015. On Wednesday, the palace released a new portrait of the queen in honor of her milestone. Her Majesty The Queen, the first Monarch in British history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

Royal superfans have descended upon The Mall outside Buckingham Palace in London as they gear up for the Queen 's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the upcoming days.The 96 year old monarch is marking 70 years on the throne with official celebrations kicking off on Thursday 2 June and supporters have already gathered in huge crowds in excitement. Numbers of people have been pictured camping outside Buckingham Palace way ahead of the Jubilee celebration, while Union Jack flags have been displayed in various formats by the Queen’s supporters. Among the dedicated fans captured on camera was a team of Royalists which included John Loughrey, 67, from South London and Maria Scott, who travelled together to the Palace to pitch up outside before the historic celebrations.