SIR Rod Stewart said “the BBC made me sing it” before peforming Sweet Caroline at the Platinum Party at the Palace last night.
The singer, 77, defended his Jubilee performance on Saturday as he took to the stage to deliver Neil diamond’s much-loved tune.
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Before leading the huge crowds and the royals in a sing-along, Sir Rod said about Sweet Caroline: “The BBC made me sing it. Join in, make it comfortable!”
Prince George and his sister Charlotte waved their flags in time with the music while the young prince belted out all the lyrics to the classic hit at the star-studded concert.
But reflecting on his performance afterwards, one fan moaned on Twitter: “The party at the palace is good but how can you butcher Sweet Caroline?”
A second huffed: “Catching up with party at the palace, now Neil Diamond is my all time fav and I do like Rod Stewart but I’m sorry NO NO NO”
And a third groaned on the site: “Was enjoying the Party at the Palace until Rod Stewart singing Sweet Caroline.”
On Sunday, millions will gather for patriotic street parties, picnics and barbecues, with more than 85,000 Big Jubilee Lunches being held across the UK.
The Duchess of Cornwall, patron of the Big Lunch, will join Charles at a flagship feast at The Oval cricket ground in south London, while the Earl and Countess of Wessex will meet people creating the “Long Table” down on The Long Walk leading up to Windsor Castle.
Some 10,000 people including a cast of 6,000 performers are involved in staging the 3km carnival procession from Horse Guards, along Whitehall to Admiralty Arch and down The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
The ambitious £15 million pageant is split into four acts: For Queen and Country with a military parade; The Time of Our Lives progressing through seven decades of culture, music and fashion; Let’s Celebrate telling the story of the Queen’s life in 12 chapters with corgi puppets and carnival creations; and the Happy and Glorious musical spectacle.
Celebrities will travel in decorated open top double decker buses for the decade-by-decade celebrations.
Among the sights will be the Gold State Coach which will feature archival footage of the Queen broadcast at the windows, making it seem as if the monarch is in the carriage.
A peloton of 300 cyclists, riding vintage bikes from across the seven decades of the Queen’s reign, is to travel down The Mall led by Sir Chris Hoy and cycling golden couple Dame Laura and Sir Jason Kenny.
Close to 200 national treasures will take to the stage to serenade the Queen by singing the national anthem at the grand finale of the Platinum Jubilee festivities.
Stars including Sir David Jason, Harry Redknapp, Sir Cliff Richard, Sandie Shaw, Felicity Kendal, Joe Wicks and Holly Willoughby will join Ed Sheeran in a mass rendition of God Save The Queen outside Buckingham Palace at the end of the pageant.
It is hoped the monarch will make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony today to round off the weekend and see the celebrities singing the national anthem.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/18786653/rod-stewart-jubilee-concert-sweet-caroline/
