My friend, were you one of the millions who tuned in to watch the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations? This year marked an unprecedented 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II on the British throne – can you believe she’s already reigned for seven incredible decades?
To commemorate this amazing achievement, four days of festivities took place across the UK, culminating in a star-studded Platinum Party at the Palace concert right outside Buckingham Palace.
But the highlight of the night was undoubtedly the legendary Diana Ross, who returned to the UK stage for the first time in 15 years to deliver an absolutely epic headlining performance.
Keep reading as I take you through all the highlights of Ross’ unbelievable Jubilee show and why it marked such a special moment in her career.
Diana Ross Returns to UK Stage After 15 Years
I don’t know about you, but I was so excited when I heard Diana Ross would be performing at the Jubilee celebration! The last time she toured the UK was way back in 2007 for her I Love You tour.
Since then, British fans have been eagerly awaiting her return to the stage. In 2020, she actually had a UK tour scheduled but it unfortunately got postponed due to the pandemic. So just imagine how thrilled people were when Ross was announced as the Platinum Party’s headliner!
In a statement before the show, Ross shared how honored she was to sing for the Queen on this momentous occasion.
She’s actually met Her Majesty several times over the years, which must have made this performance feel even more special. As both an American music icon and friend of the royal family, it was so fitting to have Diana Ross headline such a historic concert.
After over a decade away, Ross’ Jubilee performance marked a triumphant return to Britain. The public’s demand for her tour tickets showed just how much allure she still holds in the UK.
So as the disco legend stepped on stage outside Buckingham Palace, it felt like a real full-circle pop culture moment.
Blockbuster Jubilee Concert Lineup
But Diana Ross wasn’t the only A-lister at the Platinum Party – in fact, the whole lineup was stacked with music royalty!
Rock giants Queen kicked off the show with Adam Lambert on vocals. Music fans also got to see performances from Rod Stewart, Alicia Keys, Andrea Bocelli, George Ezra, James Bond composer Hans Zimmer and Duran Duran. Plus Elton John made an appearance via pre-recorded video.
The concert celebrated the diversity of British music across genres and generations. Pop king George Ezra and soulful songstress Celeste represented the younger crop of UK artists. While Eurovision star Sam Ryder sang hits from the last decade.
Over the years, the royals have assembled some spectacular shows to mark major milestones. Back in 2002, Brian May actually played guitar on top of Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee!
So it was great to see Queen rejoin the party 20 years later. May promised an even more epic moment this time around.
With three stages constructed by the palace gates, the Platinum Party was an impressive production.
The 360-degree setup allowed performers to face the crowds down the Mall and soak up the excitement. Stars also got projection backdrops directly on the palace itself!
Altogether it made for an unforgettable audio-visual spectacle.
Diana Ross Wows with Epic Platinum Jubilee Performance
But of course, the highlight of the night was Diana Ross’ jaw-dropping set. Backed by a full live orchestra, she launched into a dazzling rendition of “Chain Reaction” as a disco ball threw light across the palace.
Ross looked glamorous as ever in a flowing black and white gown with dramatic silver earrings. At 78 years old, her voice remains as sultry and flawless as it was in her Supremes days.
After getting the thousands of revelers on their feet, Ross followed up with her inspirational new track “Thank You”. Its lyrics about love and togetherness felt so fitting for the communal Jubilee spirit.
But the biggest crowd reaction came when Ross burst into the iconic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for her grand finale. As she hit those legendary high notes, it was clear why she’ll forever be the queen of Motown.
In between songs, Ross gushed about how proud she was to share the evening with us all. Her set marked the euphoric end to an incredible night.
Across social media, viewers were quick to praise Ross’ momentous performance. Fans who grew up with her music felt nostalgic hearing those hits played live again. While newer generations discovered a bright new star.
Some questioned whether Ross was lip-syncing at points. But the BBC confirmed she sang the whole set live – any backing vocals were simply supporting her powerful voice.
All in all, Ross left audiences in awe and gave us 70 minutes of pure magic. It was a joy to witness such a legendary musician back doing what she does best. After over a decade away, the UK got a reminder of her enduring star power.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
The Platinum Party was the high point in a four-day weekend of Jubilee celebrations across Britain and the Commonwealth. Over 1,500 beacons were lit, street parties were held in every corner of the land, and a special Jubilee pageant took place on the Mall.
The festivities kicked off on Thursday, June 2nd with Trooping the Colour – the famous parade of soldiers and horses marking the Queen’s birthday.
Her Majesty was front and center on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside her family. There she witnessed an epic RAF flypast with 70 aircraft soaring over the palace – talk about a royal sight!
On Friday, a Service of Thanksgiving was held at St Paul’s Cathedral with politicians and public figures from across the realm. Saturday saw the Epsom Derby horse race take place, one of Her Majesty’s favorite annual events.
But the centerpiece of the Jubilee was Sunday’s Platinum Pageant outside the palace. This carnival-like parade told the story of Queen Elizabeth II’s life and 70-year reign through dance, music and costume.
More than 10,000 people were involved in the spectacle including military personnel, key workers and ordinary folk from every part of British life. What a testament to the Queen’s seven decades of service.
No other British monarch has ever reached 70 years on the throne – that’s why all this celebration felt so momentous. Queen Elizabeth II has played an unprecedented role in modern history. She’s proven a source of strength and continuity across decades of sweeping change.
Diana Ross’ Upcoming Tour Dates
Diana Ross has already completed her UK tour, which included a show-stopping performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 14th and 15th. This was part of her ‘The Music Legacy’ 2023 tour.
The legendary singer still has several dates lined up for the rest of the year. On October 19th, she will be performing at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In November, Ross has two shows scheduled – on the 16th in Maryland and on the 18th in Connecticut. She will wrap up her 2023 tour with a final show at Atlantic City, NJ on December 2nd.
Having wowed British crowds earlier this month, these upcoming US concerts are sure to be hugely popular. Fans can expect a career-spanning setlist of her solo hits, along with some Supremes classics and Motown standards.
Ross proved her voice remains flawless and she still puts on an unforgettable show with her stunning Jubilee performance in the UK. Now stateside audiences will have the chance to see this music icon live.
So if you want to catch Diana Ross on her latest tour, act fast! Tickets are sure to sell out quickly to see this legend perform her catalog of classic songs.
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Team Guitar Top Review Talk about Guitars! We are a group of friends that bonded over their shared love of playing guitar. We all have different backgrounds and experiences with music, but we share a passion for writing about the things that we love.