The Queen is set to lead Britain in a “dignified” national rendition of Beatles classic All You Need Is Love as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations, it has been announced. The cast of Evita, African drummers and the Turkish Beatles Orchestra are among hundreds of musicians in 21 locations around Britain who will be taking their cue from the Queen on June 3rd.
The monarch will launch the singalong from Slough, but it hasn’t yet been determined what her role will entail. “We’re still discussing how the Queen will begin it,” says BBC Music Live director Bill Morris. “It might be that she just gives permission for it to start, she may press a button – but it will be dignified.”
The landmark event, which will be broadcast as it happens on BBC radio and TV as part of up to 100 hours of scheduled Jubilee programming, marks a coming home of sorts for the song. All You Need Is Love was originally commissioned by the BBC in 1967 and broadcast live around the world on June 25 of that year. The tune was an instant Sixties classic, and went to number one in the charts in 15 countries.
Meanwhile, Madame Tussaud’s is giving visitors a chance to “talk” to the Queen’s wax counterpart as part of their Golden Jubilee celebrations. As the London waxworks unveiled a clay model of the latest version of Queen Elizabeth II – the 21st in her lifetime – a spokesperson for the museum announced the completed statue be part of an interactive “Audience With The Queen” installation. The usual velvet rope will be removed and visitors will be able to “talk” to the monarch after strolling down a red carpet to the sound of trumpets. The wax “Queen” will be available for chats between May 2 and June 9.
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