Duke of Edinburgh to miss Diamond Jubilee concert after being taken to hospital
THE Duke of Edinburgh will miss the rest of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations after being taken to hospital with a bladder infection.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Philip was being observed at the King Edward VII Hospital in London.
The 91-year-old will remain under observation for a few days as a precautionary measure, a Palace spokeswoman said.
Members of the public wait on the Mall for the Buckingham Palace concert
Last December, the Duke also suffered health problems and received treatment to clear a blocked coronary artery.
Most are hoping that Prince Harry will make a surprise appearance on stage during the star-studded show.
Along with the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family, the Duke spent yesterday in cold and wet conditions on the royal barge as part of the Thames pageant.
But now he has had to cancel plans to attend the rest of the Diamond Jubilee festivities over the extended Bank Holiday weekend.
Earlier today, thousands of lucky ticket-holders tucked into a picnic in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
Ahead of tonight's Jubilee concert in the Mall, those who won a ballot for the evening show were also invited into the Palace grounds to enjoy the sumptuous feast.
Revellers had arrived from the early hours
Created by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal and the Queen's royal chef Mark Flanagan, the food on offer was of the highest quality as the 12,000 picnickers basked in bright sunshine.
Along with the 10,000 ballot winners, a further 2,000 people from charities associated with the Royal Family were invited to the event.
Chefs from supermarket Waitrose had worked with Blumenthal and Mr Flanagan in developing the menu, which included tea-smoked Scottish salmon, a modern take on coronation chicken, and Sandringham strawberry crumble crunch.
In the hamper was also a drinks token allowing guests to have either a glass of beer or bubbly, but for some there was only one option.
"Champagne reaches the parts that beer doesn't," joked Shaun Doyle from Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
A street party in Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire
Attending the big day with his wife Irene, the 67-year-old recounted his shock at being told he had won one of the sought-after tickets.
"The walk through that palace is unbelievable, it's a dream. When the guy rang us I said 'What are you on?'. We were just in the middle of our tea."
Mrs Doyle said: "We said 'Do you think it's someone kidding us?' but now I'm drinking champagne in the Queen's garden."
There were similar scenes up and down the country as the multitude of street parties being held in Britain this weekend continued.
In one of the biggest, revellers filled the whole high street in Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire. But at the centre of today's celebrations will be tonight's Buckingham Palace concert.
Australian PM Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott light a beacon to mark the Jubilee
Those who had camped overnight on the Mall for this evening's event were desperately trying to dry themselves out after torrential rain, whilst hundreds more continued to turn up from the early hours of this morning.
And most are hoping that Prince Harry will make a surprise appearance on stage during the star-studded show.
Take That star Gary Barlow, who has helped to organise the event, did not quash the rumour when asked if the royal would play the tambourine for the crowds, saying "we'll see".
Harry played the instrument on the Diamond Jubilee track Sing, written by Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber, which will be played tonight.
Full list of artists and what they'll be performing tonight:
Madness - Our House (from roof of the Palace)
Robbie Williams - Mack the Knife, Let Me Entertain You
Gary Barlow and Cheryl Cole - Need You Now
Ed Sheeran – A Team
Alfie Boe & Renee Fleming (from Palace balcony) - Somewhere
Gareth Malone and Military Wives - National anthem
Shirley Bassey – Diamonds Are Forever
Tom Jones – Delilah and Mama Told Me Not To Come
Cliff Richard – Medley of songs
Grace Jones – Slave To The Rhythm
Jessie J - Domino
Annie Lennox – There Must Be An Angel
JLS – Everybody In Love and She Makes Me Wanna
Alfie Boe – O Solo Mio
Jools Holland & Ruby Turner – You Are So Beautiful
Renee Fleming – Un Bel Di Vedremo
Lang Lang - Hungarian Rhapsody
Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth band featuring The Military Wives – Sing
Kylie Minogue – Medley of songs
Stevie Wonder – Three songs TBC
Elton John – Your Song, I’m Still Standing and Crocodile Rock
Paul McCartney – Live And Let Die and two other Beatles songs TBC
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