Queen to host all-star Golden Jubilee pop concert

An all-star pop concert will be staged in the Queen's garden at Buckingham Palace next year to celebrate her Golden Jubilee.

A classical concert in the Palace garden will also mark the 50th anniversary of her ascent to the throne.

It is the first time the Palace grounds, usually the venue for exclusive royal garden parties, will be opened for public concerts.

Tickets for both events, during an extended June bank holiday weekend, are to be free to people across the UK and will be allocated by ballot.

The concerts - there are 14,000 tickets for each - are being produced and televised by the BBC and will be shown on giant screens near the Palace for people without tickets.

After the pop concert on June 3, the Queen will light a beacon signalling the start of a spectacular firework display and a chain of beacons stretching across the UK and the Commonwealth.

In addition, on June 4, there will be a Golden Jubilee carnival pageant in the Mall, close to the Palace.

The long 2002 bank holiday weekend starts on June 1 with the classical concert in the Palace garden.The next day will see jubilee church services and bell-ringing across the UK.

Details of stars appearing at the Palace pop concert will be released later but it is understood the show will reflect the 50 years of the Queen's reign.