Month: June 2022

“You laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, have been there for us, for these 70 years,” Charles said.

He added serving the public was what “gets my mother up in the morning” and thanked her on behalf of the world.

The final day of the Jubilee celebrations on Sunday will end with a huge pageant near Buckingham Palace.

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant – a carnival procession up The Mall featuring giant puppets and celebrities – will depict key moments from the Queen’s seven decades on the throne.

Street parties are also set to be held across the UK in what is being called The Big Jubilee Lunch.

The Queen did not attend Saturday’s concert, but she opened the show appearing in a recorded sketch with Paddington Bear.

Smiling and laughing at her tea table, she opened her handbag to reveal that she kept a marmalade sandwich in it – the famous bear’s favourite snack.

Prince William also spoke at the event, focusing on his family’s record of raising concerns about the planet and his optimism people would unite to protect it.

The star-studded concert saw 22,000 people fill The Mall to see performances from an array of music artists, as well as appearances from the stars of stage and screen, and the sporting world.

There were songs from Sir Elton John, George Ezra, Craig David, Duran Duran, Alicia Keys and Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder, while Sir Rod Stewart’s performance of “Sweet Caroline” had Prince William and his family swaying in their seats.

There were performances from the cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton and several of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals, as well as a song from Six, the West End show about Henry VIII’s wives.

There was also a run through of British and Commonwealth sporting achievements by actor and rapper Doc Brown. The crowd also heard Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sing Puccini’s Nessun Dorma.

Looking on were more than 30 members of the Royal Family. Harry and Meghan, whose daughter Lilibet turned one on Saturday, did not go.

The two-and-a-half hour show was opened by the group Queen and Adam Lambert, with guitarist Brian May appearing on the Victoria Memorial monument, 20 years after he famously performed on the palace roof for the Golden Jubilee concert.

The show was closed by Diana Ross, with her first live performance in the UK in 15 years.

Taking to the stage, Prince Charles remarked on what he said was an “outpouring of warmth and affection over the Jubilee weekend”.

“On behalf of us all, I wanted to pay my own tribute to your lifetime of selfless service.”

He went on to talk about the Queen’s “strength and stay”, his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last year. He said he was sure he was there 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,” he said.

He went on to say that the Queen continued to make history – and had made the Commonwealth an important force for good. “And there was still time for fun amongst the work,” he added.

She had pledged to serve her whole life, and she continued to deliver, he said.

“You have been with us in our difficult times. And you bring us together to celebrate moments of pride, joy and happiness,” he said.

As pictures of the Queen throughout her reign were projected on to the front of Buckingham Palace, he said: “These pictures on your house are the story of your life – and ours.

“So, Your Majesty, that is why we all say: ‘Thank you.'”

The Queen’s grandson, Prince William, spoke at the event during a section of the show dedicated to environmental issues.

It opened with words from Sir David Attenborough, and as images of the natural world were projected on to Buckingham Palace and music from Hans Zimmer was played, the crowd heard archive audio of the Queen speaking about the future of the planet in 1989.

Prince William, who champions environmental issues, said that throughout the Queen’s lifetime, the natural world had become more fragile.

The Queen had spent decades making the case for taking better care of the world, he said, and restoring it has never been more urgent.

“Together, if we harness the very best of humankind, and restore our planet, we will protect it for our children, for our grandchildren and for future generations to come,” he said.

This was a deeply personal speech by Prince Charles – addressing “mummy”.

It was intimate and simple, despite the grand setting. It was a son thanking a mother who had persevered for 70 years rather than a speech commending a head of state.

It was also a reminder of how long Prince Charles and the Queen have been there together, soldiering on side by side. This is also the 70th anniversary of Prince Charles becoming heir to the throne.

In this family moment he remembered his “papa”, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last year.

If Prince Charles was looking back on changes over 70 years, Prince William was looking forward, with a rallying cry for the conservation work that is close to his heart.

In the London twilight, it was framed as a message of hope. Invoking the Queen, he said: “Like her, I am an optimist.”

Earlier in the day, the members of the Royal Family spent the day at events across the UK.

Prince William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge met performers and crew ahead of a special show in Cardiff.

Princess Anne represented her mother at the Epsom Derby where Zara Tindall, the Queen’s granddaughter, said the Queen would be tuning in from home.

“She’ll be sat on the sofa watching the TV. She’ll be in her comfy clothes,” she said.

The Queen missed Derby Day, and a service of thanksgiving on Friday, because of mobility issues.

He’s also been putting the finishing touches to a major housing policy speech, pencilled in for Thursday, which will see his own answer to help-to-buy as its centrepiece.

Mr Johnson wants us all to know he wants to get on with the job. But in between attending jubilee parties, many Tory MPs have been plotting.

And within days, some believe the PM will be engaged in a fight to stay in office.

All eyes will be on Sir Graham Brady when Parliament returns on Monday. He is the chairman of the 1922 committee – the shop steward for Conservative MPs.

If 15% of the party’s MPs – 54 of them – write letters or emails to him calling for a confidence vote in the prime minister, it happens.

Only Sir Graham knows how many have been sent in so far. That caveat cannot be overstated; nobody knows for sure what will happen over the next few days.

But, speaking to Conservative MPs this weekend, many rebels think the threshold will be reached within days.

“The expectation is that it will likely be next week,” one critic of the prime minister told the BBC. “Colleagues have to make a decision – finally they will have to make their minds up.”

A number of others echoed those sentiments. Within government, some concede a vote could be triggered in the coming days “by accident” – not because of well organised rebellion from a section of the party, but because enough disparate groups of MPs are fed up enough to submit a no confidence letter.

Since Parliament broke up for recess on the same day the full Sue Gray report was published, there has a been a growing number of MPs who have spoken out to say they think the prime minister should go. The BBC has 28 on the record saying so.

Privately there are others who are angry.

One MP said: “I know there are people who have put letters in who haven’t said so publicly.” Enough to definitely force a vote this week? “I don’t know,” they replied.

The BBC has spoken to a minister who is among those furious at the situation.

Boris Johnson is said to be “sanguine” about the prospect of a confidence vote in the near term.

And that is because if a vote happens, the bar to remove the prime minister from office is high. It would take a majority of Tory MPs – 180.

One of the rebels admitted to the BBC the most likely outcome of a confidence vote this week was a victory for the prime minister – but that Tory MPs couldn’t sit on their hands any longer and wait for the next crisis before making a move.

Others think if a tipping point isn’t reached this week, the best opportunity for rebels could come later this month, after the result of two by-elections triggered by Tory MPs standing down from Parliament.

There is a realistic chance the Conservatives will lose both Wakefield (a previous red wall seat that Labour will want to win back) and Tiverton and Honiton (a previous Tory safe seat in Devon, where many believe the Liberal Democrats are on course for another coup).

If the prime minister was seen to be losing in both the north and the south of England, it would likely lead to more of his MPs concluding he is no longer an election winner who can keep them in power.

One senior MP told the BBC: “If I was them, I would wait until the by-elections… I’d be surprised if it’s this week.”

There are other reasons why some Tory MPs may hold back this week. Firstly, the prime minister is protected from another confidence vote for a year after winning one.

That means Tory MPs wouldn’t have another opportunity after the by-elections unless they change the rules.

Secondly, the expectation is that the prime minister would stay on even if he won the vote narrowly.

As one source close to the PM said this weekend: “His opponents should not underestimate this man’s determination to do what he promised to do”. He is not, they said, going to give up the keys to Downing Street easily.

The PM’s allies are scathing of those plotting to bring him down. They argue his critics have no alternative plan, no obvious leader and no discernible strategy.

“It’s a random bunch of discontented people who don’t have a plan but want to blow up the joint”.

The government should be focussing, the source argued, on the cost of living crisis, energy policy and the war in Ukraine. “I can’t imagine anything more insane and self-indulgent than deciding a Conservative beauty parade trumps all of that.”

But if it happens, we already have a sense of how the prime minister will try to win a confidence vote. Mr Johnson’s allies argue he is the only one who can keep together the diverse coalition of voters that won the party a stonking majority at the last election.

“The north of England was voting for Boris… he is conscious of the support he still has and the massive mandate he won.”

Another source added: “There is no alternative that doesn’t blow apart the red wall. It’s a huge decision for the party – if you get rid of him, you chuck the progress of the last few years in the bin”.

That is clearly not a view shared by many of his MPs. The prime minister’s critics have spent the past week looking at polls – and concluding a change is needed.

Among the most despairing are those who have spent time on the doorsteps ahead of the by-election in Tiverton and Honiton.

One told the BBC the picture in the constituency was “appalling” with some voters saying they wouldn’t back the Conservatives again without a change of leader.

There is no shortage of nerves among Tory MPs who could face a similar challenge at the next election – there are even some who have concluded they have no chance of winning their seat next time.

In the coming days or weeks, they will have a decision to make. Whether to act – or to keep the prime minister in office.

Will June be a moment of truth for the Conservative Party – or another damp squib in the long running leadership psychodrama? Many Tory MPs are weighing that up as the bank holiday draws to a close.

Peter Navarro is the second Trump aide to be arrested after defying a legal summons from the congressional committee investigating the attack.

In court, Mr Navarro, 72, accused prosecutors and the FBI of misconduct.

His indictment comes a week before the committee is due to begin televised hearings on its inquiry.

The US House of Representatives panel, made up of seven Democrats and two Republicans, has interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses.

Steve Bannon, who was chief strategist to former President Donald Trump, faced contempt of Congress charges last November after he too defied a subpoena.

Mr Navarro has been charged with refusing to provide testimony or documents to the committee investigating the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

A China hawk who advised Mr Trump on trade issues and also served on the Covid task force, he did not enter a plea at his hearing on Friday in Washington DC.

Mr Navarro faces the possibility of up to two years in jail or a fine.

He condemned the manner of his arrest earlier in the day by FBI agents at a Washington airport as he was boarding a flight to Nashville, Tennessee.

“Who are these people? This is not America,” the former economics professor said in court, according to the Associated Press news agency. “I was a distinguished public servant for four years!”

Outside, Mr Navarro protested that he had been placed in handcuffs and leg irons as he was taken into custody, reports Fox News.

He said he would represent himself, because he was not willing to spend several hundred thousand dollars on legal counsel.

The former aide has already acknowledged in media interviews that he helped co-ordinate an effort – known as the “Green Bay Sweep” – to keep Mr Trump, a Republican, in power after he lost the November 2020 election to his Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

The House panel has also recommended contempt charges for Dan Scavino, a former deputy chief of staff to Mr Trump, and Mark Meadows, who was White House chief of staff.

But it emerged on Friday evening that the US Department of Justice will not act on those two referrals.

Mr Trump has urged his former associates not to co-operate with the Democratic-led investigation, deeming it politically motivated.

Mr Navarro has claimed his communications with the former president were protected under the legal principle of executive privilege.

Critics of the investigation have pointed out that in 2012, former US Attorney General Eric Holder was not criminally charged after he was found in contempt of Congress for refusing to co-operate with an inquiry.

Then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat, had asserted executive privilege in that case.

Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, was arrested in Punjab in November 2017 while celebrating his wedding.

A UN Working Group said his detention on terror offences was “arbitrary” and he should be released immediately.

The government said it had repeatedly raised concerns about the case.

In his letter to Boris Johnson, Sir Keir wrote: “When a UK national has been so gravely mistreated, with no legal basis, the UK government must act decisively to negotiate their release.”

He also asked why it appeared an official request had not been made, and asked when Mr Johal’s family could expect one.

Sir Keir said Labour would offer cross-party support to secure Mr Johal’s release.

Mr Johal’s brother Gurpreet Singh Johal, who was recently elected as a Labour councillor, said: “This intervention from Keir is highly crucial, coming from a former public prosecutor adds more weight.”

He added: “It’s time for the UK government to bring Jagtar home where he belongs.”

Mr Johal, 35, is accused of funding the purchase of weapons used to assassinate a number of right-wing Hindu religious and political leaders in the Punjab.

The Indian government has said his detention was based on “sufficient prosecutable evidence”.

It also said Mr Johal’s rights had been “duly honoured”.

A UK government spokesman said: “We have consistently raised our concerns about Mr Johal’s case with the government of India, including his allegations of torture and mistreatment and his right to a fair trial.

“The prime minister raised the case with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi when they met in Delhi on 22 April.”

The Queen has pulled out of the Epsom Derby and will instead watch it on TV from Windsor, Buckingham Palace said.

The third day of the celebrations will also see tributes from the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge at an open-air concert on Saturday evening.

William will also visit Cardiff, while Prince Edward is in Northern Ireland.

The Queen has been experiencing mobility problems in recent months and the palace had warned in advance that the monarch would consider which Jubilee events she felt able to attend.

The 96-year-old earlier pulled out of Friday’s Jubilee thanksgiving service after experiencing “discomfort” during Thursday’s events.

She had been due to attend Saturday’s iconic horse race, but her daughter, the Princess Royal, is expected to officially represent the monarch instead.

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are heading to Cardiff to meet the performers and crew behind a Jubilee concert at Cardiff Castle, which is separate to Saturday evening’s concert in London.

At the same time, the Earl and Countess of Wessex will carry out two engagements in Northern Ireland. Prince Edward – the Queen’s youngest son – and his wife Sophie will meet children taking part in multicultural street performances, join in with art and craft sessions, and speak to people sharing their personal memories of meeting the Queen.

On Friday, Princess Anne visited Edinburgh Zoo to feed penguins and learn about caring for wildlife accompanied by Ukrainian refugee children.

Later on Saturday, Prince Charles and Prince William are expected to pay tribute to the Queen during a special Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace, called Party at the Palace.

The two future kings will address a live audience of 22,000 towards the end of the BBC’s two-and-half-hour open-air show.

It is considered unlikely the Queen will be at the concert, given the avid horse racing fan is to miss the Derby for only the third time in her 70-year reign, but confirmation of whether she will make an appearance is expected on the day.

Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, George Ezra, and Eurovision 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder are among the stars performing at the concert.

Sir David Attenborough, David Beckham and Stephen Fry will also feature, and there will be a specially recorded performance from Sir Elton John.

Speaking ahead of the concert, disco legend Nile Rodgers told the BBC he was expecting an “incredibly festive” atmosphere.

“I’ve been playing in the UK since the early 1970s and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the country this happy and zhuzhed up and decorated. I expect the concert to be completely out of control,” he said.

And Italian operatic tenor Andrea Bocelli said: “The psychological condition when you do one of these performances… is like when a football player has to kick the last penalty – I just hope that after many years of my career, I can manage the pressure!”

Singer-songwriter Mabel told the BBC it was an “honour” to perform, and Ella Eyre – who was at Buckingham Palace for Prince William and Catherine’s wedding – said it was “surreal to be on the other side”, adding that the production was “phenomenal”.

On Friday, the Queen’s love of horse racing was referenced amid tributes at a packed thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday,

Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell praised her for “staying the course” and said she was “still in the saddle”, even though she was not able to attend.

New unseen footage showing the Queen’s affection for horses will also be broadcast on Saturday, with clips of her caring for the animals at the Royal Stud Sandringham.

In the videos – to be shown as part of ITV’s coverage of the Jubilee celebrations – she is seen feeding, observing and talking affectionately to several horses and foals, alongside her breeding and racing adviser John Warren.

In one clip as she observes two horses, the Queen is heard to say: “I often wonder what goes through her head”.

Derby Day will see the Queen’s unprecedented 70 years on the throne celebrated by 40 retired and current jockeys who have ridden for the monarch, and will form a guard of honour.

The jockeys will dress in her distinctive purple, gold and red racing silks, and racecourse owners the Jockey Club say the Queen’s Stand will be permanently renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Stand.