Prince Charles threw a
special reception on behalf of the Queen during the four-day Platinum
Jubilee celebration. The heir to the throne and his wife Camilla hosted
a party at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, just hours before the spectacular
concert, Platinum Party at the Palace.
The private reception was
attended by the likes of Prince Edward, his wife the Countess of Wessex,
Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Other royal attendees included
the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Prince and Princess
Michael of Kent. Noticeably missing were Prince William and Kate as
well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Following the celebration,
Prince Charles and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall joined other members of the
royal family to watch the special BBC Concert to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum
Jubilee.
In the royal box, they were
seated with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount
Severn, as well as Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Princess Beatrice and Princess
Eugenie.
However, the Duke and Duchess
of Sussex were missing and opted to spend the day – which also happened to be
their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday – privately. It’s believed the Queen
also remained in Windsor and watched the concert on TV.
On the night, Charles took to
the stage, with Camilla at his side, to pay a personal tribute to the Queen.
Thanking her for being there for the nation in good times and bad for 70 years,
he said: “You pledged to serve your whole life – you continue to
deliver. That is why we are here. That is what we celebrate tonight.”
In a touching moment, Charles
also spoke of his “much missed” late father, the Duke of Edinburgh,
calling him, “My Papa” and saying the Queen’s late husband Philip was
there “in spirit”.
“You have been with us in
our difficult times,” he remarked. “And you bring us together to
celebrate moments of pride, joy and happiness.”
Of Philip, who died in April
2021 and had been married to the monarch for 73 years, Charles said: “Your
‘strength and stay’ is much missed this evening but I am sure he is here 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.”
