The Queen meets Sir Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster during a reception and awards ceremony at the Royal Academy of Arts
(Picture: PA)Sir Rod Stewart has said the Queen is “almost like a sister” as the monarch marked her 70th year on the throne.
The singer paid tribute to the monarch ahead of the Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
Sir Rod said the Platinum Jubilee was about “pride in being British” as well as “pageantry and romance”.
“I’ve grown up with this woman. I was seven when she came to the throne so she’s always been part of my life, and the fact that I’ve met her on several occasions makes it even more important for me,” he said.
“She has been so much part of my life, almost like a sister. She has always been in the background of my life.”
Sir Rod told the BBC that he would be performing a never-heard song at Saturday’s Jubilee concert.
The show will be opened by Queen, who played the 2002 Golden Jubilee where guitarist Brian May famously performed God Save the Queen on the roof of Buckingham Palace.
Speaking ahead of the concert, May said: “There was a moment when I wondered: after the Buckingham Palace roof, where can you go? Well, you will see.”
Broadcaster Kirsty Young and Roman Kemp will lead the BBC’s live coverage of the event, which is being broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Radio 2 on Saturday evening.
Other famous faces from the worlds of sport, stage and screen who are part of the event include Sir David Attenborough, tennis star Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry and Dame Julie Andrews, with the evening also featuring a specially recorded performance from Sir Elton John.
Diana Ross will close the event, marking her first UK live performance in some 15 years.
The Supremes singer Ross previously said of the event: “I have had the honour of meeting the Queen many times throughout my life, including when I was with my family.
“Her Majesty has, and continues to be, such an incredible inspiration to so many across the world and I was absolutely delighted to receive an invitation to perform on such a momentous and historic occasion.”
