The queen's Platinum Jubilee celebration included everything from Trooping the Color to a National Service of Thanksgiving, a star-studded concert led by Diana Ross, thousands of lunches and street parties across the country and a final appearance by the queen herself.
Here is how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Jun 04, 2022, 4:00 PM EDT
Queen Elizabeth II makes surprise appearance with Paddington Bear
Queen Elizabeth II is not attending Saturday’s star-studded concert at Buckingham Palace, but quickly stole the show.
The 96-year-old queen starred alongside Paddington Bear in a video that kicked off the Platinum Party at the Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear have cream tea at Buckingham Palace, in London, taken from a film that was shown at the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace in this undated photo provided on June 4, 2022.
Buckingham Palace/Studio Canal/BBC Studios/Heyday Films via AP
In the video, Paddington takes a marmalade sandwich out of his hat to offer to Elizabeth, only for her to show the bear that she keeps a hidden stash too, in her handbag.
Queen Elizabeth II is seen onscreen at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Alastair Grant/AP
Later in the video, Paddington thanks the queen for her 70 years of service, saying, “Happy Jubilee Ma’am. And thank you. For everything.”
Elizabeth then replies, “That’s very kind.”
A palace spokesperson told ABC News of the sketch, "Her Majesty is well known for her sense of humor, so it should be no surprise that she decided to take part in tonight’s sketch. There was an interest in the filming and animation process and the opportunity to invite a famous bear to tea was just too much fun to miss.”
Jun 04, 2022, 4:50 PM EDT
Prince William, Kate bring kids to Platinum Party at the Palace
Britain’s royal family got to sit back and listen to some of music’s biggest stars Saturday night at a Buckingham Palace concert for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, and their two oldest kids, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are among the royals attending the Platinum Party at the Palace, watching stars including Elton John, Alicia Keys and Diana Ross perform.
Prince George, right, and Princess Charlotte watch the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, June 4, 2022.
Henry Nicholls/Pool via AP
Front row from left, Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte and Prince George and Prince William at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, June 4, 2022.
Jacob King/PA via AP
Front row from left, Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte and Prince George at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, June 4, 2022.
Jacob King/PA via AP
Also present from the royal family are three of Queen Elizabeth II's four children, Princes Charles and Edward and Princess Anne, and their spouses.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince George, Princess Charlotte watch the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace, as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, in London, June 4, 2022.
Henry Nicholls/Reuters
Nearly all of the queen's grandchildren are these as well, including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank arrive at the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace, as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, June 4, 2022, in London.
Eddie Mulholland/WPA Pool/Getty Images
The queen, the first British monarch to reach 70 years on the throne, is not attending the concert but will be honored in several speeches and tributes.
A general view of the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace during Britain's Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, in London, June 4, 2022.
Diana Ross headlines concert for Queen Elizabeth II
Music royalty is taking the stage Saturday night at Buckingham Palace to honor Queen Elizabeth II.
A who’s who of music and pop culture – including Elton John, Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Beckham, Rod Stewart and Queen + Adam Lambert – are scheduled to perform at the concert, headlined by Diana Ross.
Adam Lambert, center, from the band Queen performs with the Royal Marine drummers at the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Alastair Grant/AP
Elizabeth will not be in attendance at the concert, dubbed the Platinum Party At the Palace. The 96-year-old queen, who is dealing with mobility issues, attended Thursday’s Trooping the Color but has since bowed out of other jubilee events.
In her absence, the heirs to the throne, Prince Charles and his son Prince William will attend and are scheduled to make remarks at the concert.
Crowds have lined The Mall outside Buckingham Palace throughout the day in anticipation of the concert, which will be projected onto the palace as it happens and viewable on screens set up across the U.K.
Women wearing Union Jack themed costumes dance as people gather on The Mall, ahead of the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace concert outside Buckingham Palace, during Britain's Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, in London, June 4, 2022.
Tom Nicholson/Reuters
A woman wears a plastic crown as people gather on The Mall ahead of a concert outside Buckingham Palace during Britain's Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, in London, June 4, 2022.
Phil Noble/Reuters
Among the more than 20,000 people watching the concert from the stands will be members of the public who received tickets as well as members of the military, health care workers and volunteers from various charities.
People wave a British national flag as they gather to attend the Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace, June 4, 2022, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations.
Niklas Halle'n/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The concert's main stage is set up around the Victoria Memorial outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Members of the public on The Mall before the Platinum Jubilee concert taking place in front of Buckingham Palace, London, June 4, 2022, on the third of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP
Jun 04, 2022, 11:26 AM EDT
British celebrate Queen Elizabeth II with street parties across the UK
People in the U.K. are taking to the streets to celebrate the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.
Thousands of street parties are being held over the four-day holiday weekend.
An aerial view during the Platinum Jubilee street party on Church Street, June 4, 2022, in Hayfield, High Peak, England.
Anthony Devlin/Getty Images
A woman wears a plastic crown as people gather on The Mall ahead of a concert outside Buckingham Palace during Britain's Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, in London, June 4, 2022.
Phil Noble/Reuters
People take part in a community street party in Borough, as the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations continue, in London, June 3, 2022.
Tom Nicholson/Reuters
Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall took to Twitter to thank the public for their celebrations. “We have been touched to see so many people lining the streets," they wrote.
People around the world can also join in the celebration by trying recipes beloved by the royal family.
The pudding, or dessert, was made by amateur baker Jemma Melvin, 31, of Southport, and beat out over 5,000 entries.
6:37
Winner of sweetest jubilee baking competition shares winning recipesPlus, TJ Holmes and Amy Robach learn the secret to a good cup of tea from Fortnum and Mason.
And if you would like to try scones specifically made for the queen, try this recipe for royal fruit scones made by Mark Flanagan, the personal chef to the queen and the head chef of the royal household.
