1817 Well, that’s it for this live blog today... we’ll be back tomorrow for what promises to be a fabulous day. Your page will default to the Sunday Times from midnight but you can still navigate back by clicking on “The Times” in the top left of your screen. Thank you for your company - have a lovely evening
1740 If you’re in the north of the country you’ll find the day dry, maybe bright but a bit chilly. If you’re within 100 miles of a 1,000 boat pageant you’re going to get wet, according to the Met Office. Sorry about that. The good news is that the wosrt of the rain should be over by 8am and after that it’s just a bit drizzly (I told you it was good news). It might even stop raining by 3-4pm for a few hours. Which is the time the pageant gets to the best bit - water cannon, fly-pasts etc. So it could be worse. About 11C all day in London.
1734 The Queen has left Epsom. She appeared to have had a lovely day. It’s the big river trip tomorrow - I do hope Her Majesty likes boats as much as she likes horses.
1644 I’ve just noticed the BBC website isn’t leading on the Jubilee. Off with their heads. The Guardian is pretending it isn’t happening at all. Bless. The Telegraph has the Queen as its main picture but is leading on something else. They’ll get a postbag full of splutterng outrage for that.
1638 Sorry, bit slow with this, but Her Majesty knows already (my Palace sources tell me she is reading this) and if you care then you probably do too... still:
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Camelot, the 8-13 favourite ridden by Joseph O’Brien, won the Epsom Derby by five lengths.
Main Sequence (9-1) was second of the nine runners with Astrology (13-2) in third.
Here’s Camelot winning.
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1631 I reckon it’ll be a bit dark inside now...
But this is sweet:
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1626 This is well worth a listen. The Sun’s royal photographer Arthur Edwards on his memories of the Queen
1608 A bloke in a top hat just described Epsom as a “firmament of rejoicing” on Sky. Looks like a load of people getting drunk and losing wads of cash to me... and why not? “Firmament of rejoicing”. I ask you. Honestly. Put that man in a cold bath.
16.00 One of the many boats awaiting its moment of glory in the Queen’s river pageant tomorrow
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1553 Oh dear:
@IanHazle a woman at tesco has died her hair red blue and white but did it in stripes so it was just a french flag.. #jubilee
1546 The battle of the bunting has begun as communities compete to set a new world record for the longest continuous stretch of decoration.
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From craft enthusiasts to primary school children and community groups, people have been busy cutting and sewing red, white and blue triangles.
The current world record of 3,427.94m (11,246.5ft) was set in London on May 13 last year.
But this year the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee has brought out the competitive side of villagers of Cheddar in Somerset, Randwick in Gloucestershire, and Morchard Bishop in mid Devon, who are all hoping to break that record.
Cheddar claims it will have 4,500m (14,764ft) of bunting. Randwick is claiming 5,000m (16,404ft).
Norris McWhirter would be proud of you all.
1541 My colleagues have invented a wonderful new Diamond Jubilee drinking game for me. Every time a television pundit mentions that the Queen loves horses, is passionate about racing, has a fondness for thoroughbreds etc we have to drink. Given that this is a newspaper office and we have TVs playing every news channel you can imagine around me... this could be nasty, brutish and short.
1521 Curses. (Very) Loyal followers of this blog will know I placed a patriotic bet on the Queen’s horse Set to Music which was running in the 1510 at Haydock today (see the post at 11.10am). I did so because a man in a mac who talked a good game reckoned it had to win - because it’s the Queen’s Jubilee so they had to let it romp away.
I should have known. That mac did not speak of a man who had made a great fortune by betting.
The horse came in second, beaten by a treasonous nag called Shimmering Surf. Molly Malone loyally trotted behind in third place. All the other beasts were too busy curtseying to actually race. I demand a steward’s inquiry.
I have, however, learned my lesson. Always look a gift horse in the mouth. Not that I ever want to see a horse again. Unlike the Queen. She’s passionate about them I’m told. Repeatedly.
1509 Have you seen our excellent interactive graphic on tomorrow’s river pageant? I recommend it highly - click on the tab above or here.
1505 Visitors to the Chatsworth estate have joined in a party atmosphere - the Duke of Devonshire was the youngest of the Queen’s pages at her Coronation in 1953.
A 100m picnic table is set up in the Chatsworth garden and a special Coronation exhibition opened, displaying robes worn by four generations of the Cavendish family at the Queen’s Coronation.
Taking pride of place in Chatsworth’s grand Painted Hall is the state chariot in which the Duke, his mother, the Dowager Duchess Deborah Devonshire, and his father, the late 11th Duke of Devonshire, travelled to Westminster Abbey in 1953.
The Duke was nine years old at the Coronation.
1440 You need a heart of stone not to like this picture a little bit:
This, on the other hand, just looks wrong:
1438 A street party underway in Battersea
1430 Chap in a top hat on TV: the Queen is passionate about horses.
Thanks.
1418 John McCrirrick - odd-looking horse pundit and Big Brother hate-figure - is on the telly. He tells me the Queen loves horse racing. Everybody has told me the Queen loves racing today. Some have also told me she loves horses. Others have added that she enjoys thoroughbreds. I feel I have been remiss in this blog and must inform you that the Queen loves horses. The only thing she loves more than horses is corgis dressed up as horses riding around on top of horses.
1414 Anthony Cane, Epsom Downs Racecourse chairman, said: “At the end of the day, her love is to come here. You have to remember, she comes here in a normal year in a private capacity not on an official visit. But she comes because she loves it, and this time it’s her one trip to Surrey in the Diamond Jubilee.”
1410 Just one hour to go until the Queen’s horse Set to Music races at Haydock. Those of you who have been following this blog all day will know I’ve placed a bet on this fine beast to romp home (see the post at 11.10am). A man told me on the train, sort of. It has to win, they’re going to let it. I’m getting excited.
1404 Somebody who knows fashion (not me) writes: The Queen was dressed in a white silk dress with a blue floral print, and a royal blue crepe wool coat by Stewart Parvin and matching hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan.
1402 Among the 130,000 other racegoers at Epsom were Donna Air, Mischa Barton, Phil Tuffnell and Matt Dawson.
Presenter/model Donna Air, just in case you’ve forgotten, was recently cleared of fraudulently applying for a parking permit after her lawyer argued “there was not a lot going on in her head”.
1358 The Queen and Prince Philip are accompanied at Epsom by the Duke of York and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and the monarch’s racing manager John Warren.
Unlike in last year’s race, the Queen does not have a horse entered in the Derby, or the other six featured races.
The Earl and Countess and Wessex also joined the monarch in her royal box along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
1354 Labour leader Ed Miliband writes on Twitter: “On Diamond Jubilee weekend, welcome news the Clock Tower looks like being renamed Elizabeth Tower.”
Anyone still remember Mr Miliband’s greatest moment on Twitter - “Blackbusters”? Yeah, me too.
1352 They fired a 21-gun salute at Tower Bridge. If I threw my computer out of the window it would land on a bit of artillery. Didn’t hear a thing. Good double glazing at The Times office. Really super.
1347 An Epsom worm’s-eye view of a Red Devil
1336 See, I was right. Blue. The picture proves it.
She’s wearing buttons too. I forgot to mention the buttons. Sorry.
1334 The phone rings in Times towers. A charming gentleman informs me the paper was wrong to assert that the longest street party will be in Morcambe, Lancashire. That’s going to be half a mile long with up to 2,500 sitting down to eat. But there’s going to be 1km of tables put together for a big do, I’m now told. Which is longer.
The biggest event in the country (until somebody else rings up and tells me otherwise) is, in fact going to have 4,000 guests. The tables will stretch from Goring in Oxfordshire, across a bridge that spans the Thames, and into the neighbouring village of Streatley, in neighbouring Buckinghamshire. Wow.
I am delighted to set the record straight.
1322 The spirit that made this nation great:
@nmarkley I’d be feeling much more patriotic if the sun was shining right now. #dullldayblues #jubilee
1319
@CatPhillips There is bunting everywhere, people are smiling and conversing with strangers in the street #jubilee
1302 BLUE! Her Majesty has dressed in blue today. There’s a hat (blue) and a brooch (looks pricey). White gloves and a black handbag and black shoes. And that has plumbed the depths of my fashion knowledge. I’ll never work for Vogue.
She’s being driven round Epsom race course and the crowds are all waving their flags like crazy. The Queen looks genuinely chuffed to bits. The window is down, she’s waving away. Even Prince Philip looks like he’s having a ball.
I hope that seven-car cavalcade doesn’t rut-up the course. But I’m sure our monarch thought of that. My Palace sources tell me she likes horses.
1300 All very well, but where’s the pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks?
1258 I’m not so sure about this
Frankly, I’m quite scared.
1256 This press release lands in my inbox just as the Red Devils land in rather more spectacular style at Epsom:
“The Rt. Hon. Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has today pledged to spend an hour in a charity shop in his constituency as part of a new initiative to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.”
Good for him. There’s a cheap shot to be had there, but I’m not going to give in to temptation. Giles Coren would have no such qualms - have a read of his column today.
1248 The Queen arrives at Epsom.
Doesn’t she look good for her age. Oh, hang on...
1240 I like this. Final fixing up of the Royal Barge. I do feel sorry for him though - looks like somebody dropped the flat-pack instructions and allen key in the water and he’s been left to try and work it out himself. It’s a very royal bank holiday weekend kind-of Ikea hell.
1236 Ooooh. The Red Devils are about to parachute down onto the Epsom race course. That’ll be nice. Then we should get to see the Queen herself for the first time today. Looking forward to it Ma’am.
1218 This is a nice image...
It’s soldiers from the Queen’s Guard march down the Mall outside Buckingham Palace...
1204 Three English wines feted as “world beaters” have been selected to be served on board the royal barge as it carries the Queen and her party down the River Thames tomorrow.
They are the Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2007, the Stopham Pinot Blanc 2010 and the Albury Vineyard Silent Pool Rose 2011.
That’s “world beaters”. A popular brand of lager affectionately known as “wife beater” is apparently not on offer.
1157 This is just fabulous. 60 years worth of foreign visits by the Queen, interactive with loads of pictures and video. Enjoy it!
1147 The Queen is joining racegoers today from about 1pm at Epsom. She doesn’t have a horse racing at the Derby today.
1140 The stage is set. Literally
1128 Bet placed. It’s not that I’m a betting man, I’m really not. But that fellow on the train had a really grotty coat on. I got 9/4 so the odds coming down - all the “smart” money is piling on Set to Music.
1110 So then, on my train into the office this morning I overheard a phone conversation. A man, dressed like he spent his life in the bookies, was telling a friend how he had bet his house (or something like it) on a horse at Haydock.
As he said: “Thing is mate, the Queen owns it. It’s ‘er Jubilee today innit? They’ve got to let it win.”
That horse is Set to Music, a four year old filly being ridden by Richard Hughes running in the Grosvenor Casino Pinnacle Stakes.at 3.10pm. It’s 5/2 favourite.
Excuse me. I’m off to the bookies.
1058 With so much information out there and wall-to-wall coverage we thought we’d give you a very quick guide to the weekend. Just the best bits and when they are on.
1045 Do you like pictures? We’ve got some stunning ones here - picture galleries tracing every year of the Queen’s time on the throne. You could lose yourself for ages flicking through these - stunning. Click here.
1030 Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Britain starts to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. If you’re not too busy putting up bunting or making sausage rolls there’s some fabulous stuff to read to get into the mood.
Ben Macintyre, Times writer, best-selling author and all round good egg, has written a fabulous piece setting up the weekend:
“A vast armada will sail, chug, row and paddle along the Thames and into London today to prepare for the largest and most diverse gathering of watercraft the great river has seen, a history of Britain in boats.
At the start of a four-day nationwide celebration, the capital is preparing for more than a million people to gather tomorrow on the river banks to witness the seven-mile, 1,000-boat Diamond Jubilee flotilla: the opening tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year reign, but also a testament to a rich maritime history and our infinite capacity for messing about on the river....”
Read the full piece here.