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CNN Live At Daybreak

Queen's Jubilee Celebration Continues Despite Fire

Aired June 03, 2002 - 06:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Britain, the show must go on. Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee is going ahead as scheduled despite a fire at Buckingham Palace.

And no one can do a better job at telling us what's happening there than Richard Quest. Got your throat all clear now?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, I thought you were -- I thought you were going to say, Carol, no one could do a better job of setting the palace on fire than Richard Quest.

COSTELLO: Well, that too.

QUEST: Well possibly, but I certainly wasn't responsible for yesterday's. It was a -- listen, it had all the potential, Carol, to be a very nasty fire. Because if you remember, back in the Windsor Castle fire in '92, we didn't know how serious that was going to be.

If we take a look at some pictures from yesterday, you'll see that early on we saw smoke and flames coming from the fire when the actual -- the fire brigade was called to Buckingham Palace. It all happened. We knew that there was something serious. In the event, it was on the east gallery between the ballroom and the state apartments. And what -- we don't know the cause of it. We do know that there was only some water damage. There was only a bit of paint and a few pipes, and the Queen was adamant nothing was going to stop tonight's Royal concert -- the pop concert. Eric Clapton, S Club 7, Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John, a whole variety of stars will all be performing there.

Now on the other side of it of course there's the commemorative side, and already they've had some preparations for the concert. We've also had the Royal coronation coach, which has been taken along The Mall and round the route that it will take tomorrow. This coach has only been used three times before by the Queen. This is the third time. There was the Silver Jubilee and of course there was the coronation itself.

So, Carol, let me tell you what's happening here outside the palace at the moment, because really there's a fever and an excitement that's starting to build up. The crowds, and there are several thousand of them now right along London's fashionable Mall, round the Victoria monument. You can see some pictures we're showing you of the crowd. They're listening to one of the orchestras rehearsing. Lots of rousing music. And in the next few hours, this will build up as we wait for the pop concert.

And finally, Carol, I want to show you this. I found it at the back of my closet, it's an old tie and it happens to be in Golden Jubilee colors. I think a knighthood could be on the horizon for this one.

COSTELLO: Oh you know, I was just thinking that. I'm sure the Queen's going to love that tie, Richard. You are so funny.

Hey, I just have to ask you about Ozzy Osbourne, if the Queen is actually going to get up on stage with him?

QUEST: Well listen, let's just see what the look on the Queen's face is like when Ozzy Osbourne plays. Never mind if she's going to -- she is going to get on stage. There'll be no eating of live bats or anything like that. We are assured he's been warned about any funny tricks. It'll just be interesting to see the frown on her face...

COSTELLO: Yes.

QUEST: ... when he plays. Because I was listening to the rehearsal, Carol, and I can tell you, it's loud, it's raucous, it's rock, not perhaps her Majesty's normal sort of easy listening.

COSTELLO: Yes, I can't image her jamming to "Crazy Train," but you never know.

Thank you, Richard, you were a lot of fun this morning. And we do love your tie.

QUEST: Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: Bye.

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