Prince Charles appeared on stage at the Party at the Palace concert alongside Camilla to thank his "Mummy" for her lifetime of service. Photo / AP
The Prince of Wales captured the spirit of the nation and the Commonwealth to deliver a moving address of thanks to the Queen at her Platinum Jubilee party, telling her: "You laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, you have been there for us."
The Prince, who appeared on stage alongside Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, addressed "Mummy" as he shared a heartfelt message to the Head of State and "our mother", paying tribute to her lifetime of "selfless service".
Describing the "outpouring of warmth and affection" over the Platinum Jubilee weekend, the heir to the throne said the enthusiasm "is our way of saying thank you – from your family, the country, the Commonwealth, in fact the whole world. You continue to make history".
On a night of surprises, the Queen watched from home, along with an audience of millions around the world, as singers and performers including Diana Ross, Alicia Keys and band Queen + Adam Lambert, put on a spectacular show.
Addressing the live audience of 22,000 and millions around the world, both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge paid tribute to the Queen, speaking of the legacy of her 70-year reign and her astonishing contribution to public life.
"You have met us and talked with us," Prince Charles said. "You laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, you have been there for us for these 70 years. You pledged to serve your whole life – you continue to deliver. That is why we are here. That is what we celebrate tonight."
He spoke in front of a series of photographs, projected onto Buckingham Palace, of the Queen in key historic moments, from the state visit of Nelson Mandela to her Coronation, watched by Prince Charles as a four-year-old.
"These pictures on your house are the story of your life – and ours," the Prince said. "So, Your Majesty, that is why we all say 'thank you'."
Honouring the Duke of Edinburgh, he told the Queen: "Your 'strength and stay' is much missed this evening, but I am sure he is here in spirit. My Papa would have enjoyed the show and joined us wholeheartedly in celebrating all you continue to do for your country and your people.
"Looking back, we think of the countless state occasions that are milestones along this nation's road. And you will think of red boxes, filled with government papers, at the end of the day."
There was still, he said, "time for fun amongst the work". "We might have been celebrating that Derby winner this evening…next year perhaps?" he joked, after the Queen's horses had to pull out of the Epsom Derby, which the monarch was unable to attend.
"But I know what really gets my mother up in the morning is all of you, watching at home, represented here tonight in this great audience.
"Your Majesty, you have been with us in our difficult times. And you bring us together to celebrate moments of pride, joy and happiness."
He ended his speech with a rousing three cheers for the Queen, leading the concert audience, and the nation at home, in an expression of their gratitude for the Queen's 70 years on the throne.
She was not at the concert, but watched on television at Windsor Castle. More than 30 members of her family appeared in the Royal Box at the specially built stage outside Buckingham Palace.
The Duke of Cambridge focused on the Queen's contribution to the environment and her rallying cry that there is "always room for hope".
Sir David Attenborough spoke to crowds via a video, with images of the natural world beamed across the facade of Buckingham Palace.
Archive audio of the Queen echoed around the Queen Victoria Memorial, including her Christmas Message in 1989 in which she said: "We share the Earth as human beings. All of us. And together as the nations of the world will leave it to our children and children's children. We must be kind to it for their sake."
Joking that the palace had been turned into an "IMAX screen", the Duke of Cambridge said: "As I watch those extraordinary images, it does make me think of all the monumental and pioneering work of so many visionary environmentalists that have gone before. I'm so proud that my grandfather and my father have been part of those efforts.
"While no one's grandmother thanks them for talking about their age, my own grandmother has been alive for nearly a century. In that time, mankind has benefited from unimaginable technological developments and scientific breakthroughs."
Saying he, like her, is an optimist, the Duke added: "It's my firm hope that my grandmother's words are as true in 70 years' time as they are tonight – that as nations we come together in common cause, because then there is always room for hope."
Members of the Royal family sang along to Rod Stewart's version of Sweet Caroline and waved Union Jack flags during the Party at the Palace concert at Buckingham Palace, the third day of a Platinum Jubilee extravaganza marking her 70 years on the throne.
At the end of his performance, which also included the song Baby Jane, Rod Stewart told the crowd: "God save the Ukraine!"
Earlier, the Queen stole the show from the first minute by starring in a surprise sketch with none other than Paddington Bear, delighting thousands of wellwishers in the crowd.
Thousands of people gathered outside Buckingham Palace for the star-studded concert where two future monarchs will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday morning (NZT),
The event featured Sir Elton John, Diana Ross, Alcia Keys, Queen and Adam Lambert and took place in a temporary amphitheatre built around the Victoria Memorial outside the palace.
Throngs of people were pictured on The Mall and across central London on the third day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The concert started at 6.30am (NZT) with Queen + Adam Lambert, who played We Will Rock You as the crowd sang along.
David Beckham and tennis player Emma Raducanu were among those attending, while Diana Ross closed the show with her first UK live performance in 15 years.
The 96-year-old monarch missed the evening outdoor event, which may be hit with some rain. The queen has had problems moving around lately, which the palace describes as "episodic mobility issues," limiting her public appearances in recent months.
Earlier in the day, the Queen also missed the legendary Epsom Derby horse-race meeting.
Zara Tindall said the Queen watched the Derby on TV in her "comfy clothes".
Zara, 41, told racegoers at the course in Surrey that her grandmother was "well" but had wanted to watch the action from the comfort of Windsor Castle.
"She will be watching on the TV – she has a few runners today dotted around the country, so she knows exactly what's going on," she said ahead of the race. "She'll just be sat on the sofa watching the TV. She'll be in her comfy clothes."
News that the Queen couldn't make Saturday's concert didn't dampen the party atmosphere among crowd.
"It's a magical experience ... (This is) never again going to happen in our lifetime, and it's just absolutely incredible to be a part of this," said Sam Ahcquoim, from Cornwall in southwestern England. "I've been really, really excited and just can't wait to get in there now and start dancing."
Meanwhile, other members of the royal family travelled to Wales and Northern Ireland as part of celebrations across the UK.
William and his wife Kate brought two of their three children — 8-year-old Prince George and 7-year-old Princess Charlotte — to Cardiff Castle in Wales before a separate concert in the castle grounds in honor of the queen.
So lovely to meet the stars and team behind tonight’s concert. We had an extra special drum demonstration for George and Charlotte, saw a stunning performance from the Wales Youth Choir for Good and had a sneak peak at how the show will come together.
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 4, 2022
Have a great time! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/CDHJAdnt0A
The queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, visited a 1950s-themed seaside funfair in Belfast. Edward tried his hand at pulling a pint of Guinness at a diner, while Sophie took in a '50s and '60s dance demonstration.
Zara Tindall said the Queen watched the Derby on TV in her "comfy clothes".
"She will be watching on the TV – she has a few runners today dotted around the country, so she knows exactly what's going on," she said ahead of the race. "She'll just be sat on the sofa watching the TV. She'll be in her comfy clothes."
Asked whether she had spoken to Her Majesty recently, Zara added: "Yes. She's well, but obviously, she was in London on Thursday. She's got runners today, so she'll concentrate on that and be watching the Derby."
Although her absence was keenly felt, the Queen was at the Derby in spirit, not least when a guard of honour of current and retired jockeys assembled at the final furlong ahead of the race.
Asked about the royal party driving through the 40 jockeys, who have all ridden for the Queen, Zara added: "It was amazing. It was so nice to see so many faces. It was funny seeing them trying to fit back into the colours again, all the retired ones.
"Obviously, we'd love her to be here. But it's nice to be here. I've never been to Epsom before. It's exciting. I need to go and explore."
Her husband, the former rugby player Mike Tindall, added: "The Queen is such a wonderful woman. I have said this numerous times, but in terms of how you want a leader to be, she is that person and someone who sets an example.
"It's such a shame that she's not here with us. It would have been the dream if [her colt] Reach For The Moon was here."
The couple, who have three children, joined Zara's mother Princess Anne, 71, who represented the Queen with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, 67.
Zara's brother, Peter Phillips, 44, made his first public appearance with his new girlfriend Lindsay Wallace, 40.
The Queen was forced to pull out of attending the Derby, won by Desert Crown, after what the Duchess of Cambridge described as a "very tiring" day at Trooping the Colour on Thursday.
After the monarch had missed Friday's service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, a Jockey Club source said she planned to watch the Derby with John Warren, her trusted bloodstock and racing adviser.
Her Majesty's absence did not dampen the celebrations of her enormous contribution to horse racing, with jockeys both current and retired including Willie Carson, Frankie Dettori and AP McCoy dressed in the Queen's distinctive racing silks of purple, scarlet and gold for the unprecedented moment on the world-famous turf.
Describing the pride he has felt riding for the Queen, Dettori said: "Every time you see these [colours] on your peg, you [have] this sense of importance and it's a great honour.
"Look, she's a big lover of horse racing, and like you say she's only missed the Derby twice. But I'm sure today she'll find a TV and she's going to watch it live because she loves the Derby so much.
"She's been breeding horses for over 60 years, she knows all the bloodlines and she's won lots of races. she's very knowledgeable."
Meanwhile, police have removed a group of people who ran onto the track ahead of the Epsom Derby on Saturday.
The group, who appeared to be protesters with banners, fell to the ground after the officers intervened.
Dozens of officers could be seen working to move them, as members of the Royal Box watched on. Princess Anne, and Zara and Mike Tindall were at the event.
The animal rights campaign group Animal Rebellion claimed six of its members were involved.
The race meeting crowds cheered as the protesters were taken away, with a voice on the Tannoy system apologising to spectators.
On Thursday, members of the same protest group were arrested after they entered the ceremonial route on The Mall before Trooping the Colour.
The group said the protest was aimed at making "a definitive statement, and act, against the cruelty and harm the horse racing industry represents".
It describes itself as a "mass movement using non-violent civil disobedience to call for a just, sustainable plant-based food system".
Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford turned 7 on June 21, with Clarke Gayford making a 'Jellycat Diner' cake for the occasion. Video / @clarkegayford