One year on: Remembering the Platty Joobs
This time last year we had the bunting up for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Little we did know it was also a goodbye. Here’s our favourite moments…
1. Paddington takes tea with The Queen
Her Majesty’s comic sketch with Paddington Bear at the start of Platinum Party at the Palace was simply EVERTHING! She was a Bond girl with Daniel Craig’s 007 for the 2012 Olympics and in 2022 our Platinum Queen invited another British icon, the nation’s favourite bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw), to help her celebrate. We loved every second of it. Watch it (again and again) here. This most memorable moment even won a BAFTA voted by the public.
2. Louis steals the show
He had us all in hysterics at Trooping the Colour, standing next to the Queen, watching the flypast. From shrieking at the jets and clapping his hands over his ears at the noise, the then-four-year-old Prince was adorable. A few days later at the (rather lengthy) People’s Pageant he slapped his hands over his eyes, puffed out his cheeks in boredom and threw a cushion around. When mum Catherine ticked him off, he blew a giant raspberry at her, in front of the world’s cameras.
3. Charlotte demonstrates why she’s the royal enforcer
We love the fact that nothing escapes Princess Charlotte’s firm grip on palace protocol. Least of all brothers George and Louis. She kept Louis’s enthusiastic waving in check during their Trooping the Colour carriage ride, told him off during the Pageant (quite a few times), and gently nudged George to stand straight on the balcony during the National Anthem.
4. George and William belting out Sweet Caroline
The Royal Family clearly love a pop concert because let’s face it, they put on some cracking ones over the years (Take That at the Coronation Concert, yes please). Last June, we loved seeing father and son rock out Platinum Party at the Palace. Waving their Union Jack flags and singing Sweet Caroline, while Rod Stewart gave it his raspy best on stage. Catherine and Charlotte belted out the classic too. Just imagine the karaoke sessions at Adelaide Cottage.
5. The Queen surprises everyone
The cheers were deafening when Her Majesty made a dazzling last-minute appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the People’s Pageant on Sunday 5 June. After her balcony appearance at Trooping the Colour, the frail monarch missed most of the Jubilee celebrations. We didn’t realise at the time but The Queen’s extraordinary effort to salute the crowds would be her final time on the famous balcony - a poignant farewell. Hours later she issued a moving letter in which she declared: “My heart has been with you all.”
6. Seamus carries off canine cool
Seamus the Irish Wolfhound was a standout performer at Trooping the Colour. The regimental mascot of the Irish Guards (and officially called Turlough Mor) sauntered with total sassiness as he led his soldiers. His handler, drummer Adam Walsh said he has “never met a dog like Seamus, as not much fazes him.” And like the late Queen, the chilled-out pooch was also celebrating, he had his second birthday a week before.
7. Drones spell out why we love Her Majesty
Lighting up the night sky over Buckingham Palace in spectacular style were 400 very clever and hardworking drones. As a fabulous finale to Party at the Palace, the drones played a starring role illustrating some of The Queen’s interests and hobbies. From a giant corgi with a bone to her favourite handbag, love of horses, a cup of tea and the Her Majesty’s iconic image on a stamp, the company who orchestrated the jaw-dropping special effects, Sky Magic, had us all totally captivated. Like the drones writ large: Thank you Ma’am.
Wills and Kate wow at royal wedding
The Prince and Princess of Wales were in Jordan on Thursday for the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al Saif. Catherine looked beautiful in a pink Elie Saab gown from its 2017 collection, as she curtsied to King Abdullah II and Queen Rania at Zahran Palace. She then changed into a pink Jenny Packham gown for the evening reception. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were also in attendance – Beatrice in an ice-blue gown, £650, by Needle and Thread.
Prince William and Crown Prince Hussain have spent time together in the past and Catherine also lived in Jordan as a child, when the family moved there when she was two while her father, Michael Middleton, worked for British Airways. The Wales’ also holidayed there in 2021.
Fergie spills the tea on her new podcast
Watch out Meghan, there’s another duchess after your podcast crown - the Duchess of York this week launched her podcast Tea Talks with her friend, entrepreneur Sarah Thomson. Promising candid conversation, Fergie opened the first episode by saying, “I’m a mother; I’m a granny; I have been very lucky to be a duchess.”
She shared gems like when she sees people surreptitiously taking phots of her in airports, she asks them if they would like a selfie. She also talked about her time as a waitress in a Strudel House in California and answers a listener’s question as to whether she has a boyfriend (no) and does she want one? (yes). It’s certainly honest.
Happy birthday Lilibet
Much was made of Prince Archie’s birthday falling on the day of the Coronation and now Princess Lilibet’s second birthday also sees dad Prince Harry having to travel soon afterwards, for his latest court appearance in London vs the Mirror Group.
Lilibet celebrates her second birthday today, June 4 and will no doubt enjoy a bigger party at home in Montecito than she did for her first birthday. Last year, the family was in the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and had a little do at home in Frogmore. A few close friends and family were in attendance, including photographer Misan Harriman who took Lilibet’s lovely official portrait.
Meanwhile, according to the Express, the King is planning a special gift for his grand-daughter of something like a cubby house. The Queen had a magnificent mini-thatched cottage called The Little House gifted to her from Wales – which is still in Windsor today. Watch the archival footage of it here.
Get ready to read at the Queen’s book festival
We at The Royal List love Camilla’s book club and so are looking forward to the inaugural The Queen’s Reading Room Festival on June 11, at Hampton Court Palace. Speakers include Dame Judi Dench, Gyles Brandreth, Kate Mosse, Philippa Gregory and more. If it inspires you to visit more book festivals, Kerry wrote about Britain’s best in this week’s sister newsletter The British Travel List, read it here.
Plus: Happy heavenly birthday, Philip
The much-missed royal legend would have been 102 today, and although the great man was known for speaking his mind, he is also fondly remembered for his infectious sense of humour. Back in 2021, Prince William revealed how Philip loved playing with the children in the family, and one of the Duke’s favourite games was getting his grandchildren to squirt mustard all over the ceiling. “He used to take the lid off [the tube] and put it in your hands... and then he'd squish your hands together to fire the mustard onto the ceiling. He used to get in a lot of trouble from my grandmother.”