BBC to mark the relationship between Her Majesty The Queen and the Commonwealth with a trio of celebratory programmes

• BBC One and BBC Radio 2 will mark The Queen’s birthday, which falls at the end of this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, with a live music extravaganza. Acts including Sir Tom Jones, Kylie, Craig David, Anne Marie, Shawn Mendes and Sting & Shaggy will perform
• George Alagiah will retrace the steps of the fascinating history of The Queen’s Commonwealth in The Queen: Her Commonwealth Story
• Sir Lenny Henry will examine the deep-rooted relationship between Britain, the Commonwealth and its 2.3 billion people in The Commonwealth Kid

The Queen’s Birthday Party will see some of the biggest names in music come together to put on a birthday party extravaganza on Her Majesty’s birthday, to air live on BBC One and BBC Radio 2.

Also on BBC One, George Alagiah will retrace the steps of the fascinating history of The Queen’s many Commonwealth visits and, in a new film, Lenny Henry will examine the deep-rooted relationship between Britain, the Commonwealth and its 2.3 billion people.

Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, says: “The Queen’s 92nd birthday will be celebrated live on BBC One with a stunning evening of music. BBC One will also explore the story of the Commonwealth through two single films presented by George Alagiah and Lenny Henry.”

On Saturday 21 April, BBC One and BBC Radio 2 will broadcast a special concert in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 92nd birthday, live from the Royal Albert Hall. The concert comes at the end of a week when many Commonwealth Leaders will be gathered in London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It will be attended by The Queen and many members of the Royal Family, with performances from a host of musical stars. Already confirmed are Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Craig David, Anne Marie, Shawn Mendes, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Sting & Shaggy, who will come together to put on a birthday party like no other.

With celebratory performances from acts from across the world and stars from around the Commonwealth, The Queen's Birthday Party promises something for all the family. Tickets are available from 9am, Wednesday 21 March from the Royal Albert Hall.

Highlights of the concert will be broadcast on BBC World Service English, giving listeners around the world the chance to hear the celebrations.

Lewis Carnie, Head of BBC Radio 2, says: “I’m thrilled that Radio 2 will be broadcasting this very special concert live from the Royal Albert Hall to mark Her Majesty’s 92nd birthday. It promises to be a spectacular evening of entertainment destined to bring the whole nation together.”

The Queen’s Birthday Party is a BBC Studios’ Production for BBC One and BBC Radio 2. Claire Popplewell is Editor, Ceremonial Events, and Alison Howe is the Executive Producer. It was commissioned by Alison Kirkham, Controller, BBC Factual Commissioning, and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content.

It goes out live on BBC One, Saturday 21 April at 8pm.

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BBC Newsreader George Alagiah will present a new film for BBC One exploring the fascinating history of The Queen and the Commonwealth that she has led for over 60 years. Walking in Her Majesty’s footsteps, George discovers how the role of heading-up this family of nations progressed, exploring moments of triumph, diplomacy, challenge and political intrigue.

George’s journey starts in Tonga, one of the furthest flung stops on The Queen’s first Commonwealth tour in 1953, where he meets Princess Pilolevu, granddaughter of The Queen of Tonga, who welcomed the 27-year-old Queen. From there George's own Commonwealth tour takes him to Australia, Ghana, India and South Africa. George explores how, amidst safety fears and the risk of political unrest, The Queen travelled to newly independent Ghana and charmed President Nkrumah. And looking at how Royal visits to Commonwealth countries haven’t always run so smoothly, the film explores how The Queen’s arrival in India in 1997 meant revisiting the painful memories of the 1919 Amritsar massacre, with many expecting an apology for this difficult episode in Britain’s past.

George Alagiah says: “What we see in this film is the transformation of a young, diffident woman into a confident figure able to command the respect of leaders around the world. We discovered that as Head of the Commonwealth she has far more room to manoeuvre - able to influence world events in a way she cannot at home.”

Gathering testimony from people who have met The Queen across the years and from experts who have followed her fascinating journey, George builds a picture of how deftly The Queen has played her role as head of the Commonwealth. Her daughter Princess Anne talks about her own experiences of Royal walkabouts and The Queen's role in a male dominated world. Other interviewees include former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, the second Commonwealth Secretary-General Sir Sonny Ramphal and South African politician Mamphela Ramphele, who reveal unique insights into the Queen’s contribution to the history of the Commonwealth.

The Queen: Her Commonwealth Story (1x60') is a BBC Studios Production for BBC One. The Executive Producer is Jo Roe. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of Content and Alison Kirkham, Controller of Factual Commissioning. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Simon Young.

The film goes out on BBC One at 9pm on Monday 26 March

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Also airing on BBC One in April, this special film follows Dudley born, Jamaica bred Sir Lenny Henry as he examines the deep-rooted relationship between Britain, the Commonwealth and its 2.3 billion people.

Fascinated with his own heritage and the Commonwealth, Lenny considers himself a Commonwealth Kid, born to Jamaican parents who came to the UK as part of the post-Windrush generation in 1957. It’s an issue close to his heart and a subject he feels deeply passionate about.

Lenny says: “I’m delighted and excited to revisit where my parents grew up and explore things I don’t know about Jamaica and the Bahamas especially in the context of the Commonwealth.”

In this hour-long film, Lenny will set off on a tour of the Caribbean visiting the Bahamas and his homeplace of Jamaica to hear what the Commonwealth means to the people who actually reside there. In this funny and fascinating journey into the body, mind and soul of the Caribbean, Lenny will investigate the experiences of those who live so far from the UK, but remain members of this vast and populous club.

From street vendors to government officials and teachers to students, he will examine the special bond that exists between the people of the Caribbean and the UK, a microcosm of the wider relationship between all of the people of the Commonwealth.

Lenny Henry: The Commonwealth Kid (1x60') is a Burning Bright Productions and Douglas Road Productions for BBC One. The Executive Producers are Clive Tulloh and Barbara Emile. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of Content and Tom McDonald, BBC Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Specialist Factual. The BBC Commissioning Editor is Simon Young.

It is expected to air on BBC One at 9pm on Monday 2 April

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