One billion will watch Ed sing for Queen

POP star Ed Sheeran will lead 100 "national treasures” performing outside Buckingham Palace in a spectacular finale to the Queen's platinum jubilee celebrations.

- Richard Palmer

The musical tribute to Her Majesty, 96, will bring to a close a £15million “People's Pageant” through central London - following a 1.9-mile route similar to her Coronation in 1953.

The Queen and her family are expected to take to the palace's balcony at the end of the parade, watched by thousands of people in The Mall and an estimated one billion TV viewers around the world.

But, as has been the case with all her recent engagements, Her Majesty's attendance will only be confirmed on the day - Saturday June 4- due to her health issues.

Rosanna Machado, chief executive of the pageant, said: “We are liaising with the Royal Household about involvement of all members of the Royal Family and details will be released in due course."

Ed, 31, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, will be among 10,000 celebrities, performers and military personnel taking part in the 50-minute-long parade and two hour-long concert. Other stars include Sir Cliff Richard, Gary Lineker, Bill Bailey, Alan Titchmarsh, Torvill and Dean, Gok Wan and even Basil Brush.

Pageant master Adrian Evans promised it would be the biggest celebration of Britishness since the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. He said: "In all our history there has never been an opportunity to celebrate a 70-year reign.

“We aim to make this a most magnificent occasion, one in which the nation can show its affection and appreciation to the monarch.