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American Morning

Queen Elizabeth II Misses Ozzy at Jubilee Concert

Aired June 04, 2002 - 07:43   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Queen Elizabeth II was serenaded by rock 'n' roll royalty at last night's party at the palace. They all came out to help her celebrate her 50 years on the throne.

And today, it is back to the pomp and ceremony, and CNN correspondent, Richard Quest, is there to take us through the celebration.

So it's a good party, isn't it? Good morning, Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula. What a party it's turning out to be. Incidentally, when Ozzy Osbourne played last night at the palace, the party at the palace, the queen wasn't actually in the royal box to hear him. The queen heard Shirley Bassey, S Club 7 and everybody else who was there. She didn't hear Ozzy Osbourne.

Now, the way the palace puts it diplomatically, the queen was just late in getting to her seat. You pays your money, you takes your choice.

Today in London, Paula, a day of pageantry that perhaps only the British can put on. We saw the queen leave Buckingham Palace and head to St. Paul's Cathedral in the gold state coach, the coach that was actually built in 1762 for George III, a monarch of particular importance to the United States. The queen then made her way to St. Paul's Cathedral, where there was a service of thanksgiving. On the way, more than a million people lined the streets of London, the music, the choirs, the singing right the way down the route.

Paula, this afternoon, the queen comes back to the palace and a totally different atmosphere. And what has been fascinating about this Golden Jubilee, Paula, is the way they have switched gears. We have gone from classical concert to pop concert. We have gone from pop concert to thanksgiving service and solemnity. And now, how would you like 5,000 gospel singers and an entire choir and parade outside your front door? That's what is going to be happening here in London.

We'll be here to bring you up to date as it happens.

ZAHN: And, Richard, I know you can't see this, but we are looking at live pictures of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair going up the stairs. I would hope the queen would have ascended the stairs before him. Tell us what those two parties are up to today. QUEST: Right. Well, let me tell you what you're looking at. You are looking at the Guild Hall. It's in the center of London. The queen has already made her way there. It's a lunch in her honor. She is expected to speak. We will obviously be listening very carefully to what she says. And now, you get a size and scale. That's the Mall in London from the top of Admiralty Arch looking down to Buckingham Palace, where more than a million people are on those streets.

And in just a few hours -- incidentally, this coach -- before I leave you -- this coach is actually carrying members of the royal family, minor members of the royal family, Windsorian (ph). I'm not sure where they hired that one from, but they wanted to get as many there as they could in one go. So you know, even the royals, the minor royals are sometimes shunted on a bus.

ZAHN: Well, unfortunately, Richard, we are not looking at the pictures of the Golden Coach. We are looking at the people milling around at Guild Hall, as they get ready for the queen to make her address.

But coming back to Ozzy Osbourne, I can't believe he got ditched by the queen. Do you think he will ever get over it?

QUEST: Listen, what will be interesting is to see which artists that performed last night get honored. Will it be Sir Ozzy Osbourne? Ozzy Osbourne, OBE. Who knows what he might end up with after this particular event. Her majesty didn't hear him, but the rest of the royal family certainly did.

ZAHN: Well, if I got to nominate anyone, Richard, it would be you to have sir before your name. Hey, enjoy the party. Keep us posted on the rest of the festivities. We'll check in with you in the next hour to see what else has transpired -- thanks so much.

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