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The Queen is set to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in June with a four-day bank holiday weekend.
The weekend, which will begin on Thursday 2 June and end on Sunday 5 June, will see several events take place involving members of the royal family.
These include Trooping the Colour, a Service of Thanksgiving, the Platinum beacons, a Platinum Jubilee pageant and a star-studded concert.
However, the RMT union has today announced planned strike action on the weekend, which will affect passengers aiming to travel on the Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly Lines.
Meanwhile, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have begun their three-day tour in Canada, where they are representing the Queen - one of a number of recent appearances to highlight Prince Charles’ increased presence as head of the royal family in the light of the monarch’s mobility problems and advanced age.
While the Queen has made mostly virtual appearances so far this year due to ongoing mobility issues, as she gears up for the Jubilee weekend Her Majesty has started to make more in-person appearances.
However Buckingham Palace has said the Queen’s attendance at Jubilee weekend events aren’t likely to be confirmed until the day-of.
Follow our liveblog for all of the latest updates on the Queen as she prepares to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.
Diana Ross to headline Queen’s platinum jubilee concert
The legendary Diana Ross is set to headline the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace concert on Saturday 4 June.
The Ain’t No Mountain High Enough singer’s performance will be one of the main attractions for the event, which will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Kate Ng18 May 2022 13:30
‘My therapist will hear about this’
Everyone is gearing up to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee - but one chip shop’s offering for the royal occasion is... questionable.
Crisp and Fry, a chip shop chain in Wales, posted a TikTok video of its “Jubilee fish and chips”, featuring bright red chips and a blue battered fish, and the response is nothing short of hilarious.
Get the full story here:
Kate Ng18 May 2022 12:30
Crafters to decorate post boxes ahead of Queen’s Jubilee
The UK’s crochet experts have picked up their hooks to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – recreating the monarch and her corgis in miniature to sit on top of post boxes across the country.
Keen crocheters have decorated their communities with bejewelled crowns and googly-eyed versions of the Queen’s Guard to mark her 70 years on the throne.
Kate Ng18 May 2022 11:30
Tube strike action announced for jubilee weekend
Strike action has been announced for the Jubilee long weekend (2-5 June) which could affect the celebrations in the capital.
The RMT Union says its members will walk out of Euston and Green Park stations on Friday 3 June to protest bullying and a “toxic working environment”.
The strikes would last all day on the Friday and affect passengers aiming to travel on the Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly Lines.
Our Deputy Travel Editor Lucy Thackray reports:
Kate Ng18 May 2022 10:33
Charles discusses ‘vital process of reconciliation’ in Canada amid calls for apology over indigenous treatment
Prince Charles has pledged to listen and learn from Canadians embarking on a process of reconciliation to “come to terms with the darker and more difficult aspects of the past”.
It comes after the couple faced calls from indigenous communities for the Queen to formally apologise for the treatment of indigenous people in education institutions.
Kate Ng18 May 2022 10:00
Charles and Camilla celebrate Canada’s culture during tour of country
Prince Charles and Camilla are currently on a three-day tour of Canada in honour of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
On Wednesday, the royal couple celebrated the culture, crafts and people of Canada by pouring themselves pints of beer made from icebergs that were thousands of years old.
Read about their trip so far below:
Kate Ng18 May 2022 09:02
Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s liveblog following the latest news about the Queen and the royal family ahead of the upcoming platinum jubilee.
Kate Ng18 May 2022 08:56
Tune in to our liveblog again tomorrow
That’s a wrap of our coverage today! Check back in tomorrow for more news and live updates about the Queen’s upcoming platinum jubilee celebrations.
Kate Ng17 May 2022 20:30
When is the Platinum Jubilee?
In case you’ve forgotten already, here are the details on when the platinum jubilee is:
Kate Ng17 May 2022 19:50
Barbie doll made in honour of the Queen sold out in three seconds
A Barbie doll created in the likeness of Queen Elizabeth II to mark her platinum jubilee sold out in three seconds - and the dolls are now being sold for hundreds of pounds on eBay to avid royal collectors.
Kate Ng reports:
Kate Ng17 May 2022 18:50