A celebration fit for a Queen
Get out the good china and string up your Union Jack bunting, as Australia prepares to celebrate Her Majesty, The Queen’s birthday and Platinum Jubilee this week on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Over four magical days, royal watchers will have a front-row seat to all the pomp and pageantry planned to mark Queen Elizabeth’s historic 70-year reign and June birthday festivities – kicking off with this year’s Trooping The Colour – in a dazzling telecast 8.30pm tonight on Channel 7 (Sydney/Brisbane) and 7two (Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth).
Weekend Sunrise co-host Monique Wright will join Seven’s European bureau chief Hugh Whitfeld and UK correspondent Sarah Greenhalgh in London to bring viewers the breaking news from inside the Palace, where excitement – and controversy – is building toward the all-star Platinum Party At The Palace from 7.00pm this Sunday on Seven.
In one of the most hotly-anticipated appearances since their Windsor wedding in 2018, royal rebels Prince Harry and wife, Meghan, will be the star attractions during Thursday’s parade of carriages, with a cavalcade of senior royals travelling from the Palace, along The Mall to the Horse Guards’ parade grounds and back again.
With the streets of London expected to be lined with more than 10,000 loyal fans and onlookers, the monarch’s annual birthday parade is set to be watched by close to a billion people around the globe and will feature fun-size puppet corgis and a giant 3D wire bust of the Queen along the three-kilometre route.
In a break from tradition, Queen Elizabeth is expected to take the salute from her military guards from the Buckingham Palace balcony – handing the horseback duties to Prince William, who is expected to be resplendent in the Irish Guard uniform he wore to marry Kate Middleton 11 years ago.
A less mobile monarch will be surrounded by her 73-year-old son and heir, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla; Duchess Kate and the three Cambridge children; as well as Princess Anne and Prince Edward with their spouses.
Notably missing from the famed balcony snapshot will be the Sussexes and exiled Prince Andrew, who has been banished behind the scenes since being linked to the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal.
Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise viewers will catch up on all the royal family action, with Wright to report during the breakfast programs and The Morning Show.
On Sunday night, join Michael Usher on 7NEWS Spotlight for the gala concert, starring Sir Elton John, Sir Rod Stewart, Alicia Keys, Queen + Adam Lambert, Diana Ross and a galaxy of stars set to perform during the 2.5-hour extravaganza.
Ch9 has the concert live at 4.30am and repeated and 2pm so by the time 7 plays it this will be the third screening
Is the pageant being broadcast live?