Queen pulls out of jubilee service due to ‘discomfort’ during Thursday’s parade

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II will miss a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral for her 70 year reign on Friday, after experiencing “some discomfort” during the first day of her Platinum Jubilee celebration.

The Queen appeared at Buckingham Palace on Thursday during the festivities and participated in a beacon lighting ceremony from Windsor Castle in the evening.

“The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s Birthday Parade and Flypast but did experience some discomfort,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

“Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend,” it continued.

Earlier Thursday, the 96-year-old Queen looked on from the palace’s famous balcony at a sea of red, white and blue as huge, flag-waving crowds flocked to the Mall to see the monarch and her family.

The area around Buckingham Palace and nearby St James’ Park was packed with homegrown and international tourists – some of whom had camped out overnight – to witness the first event of the bumper four-day weekend celebrations.

And after seven decades of duty, the sovereign certainly lived up to her reputation as a loyal crowd-pleaser. She may not have been up to the ceremonial role of riding on horseback as part of Trooping the Colour, but she nonetheless delighted fans by her presence on the balcony following the military parade.

Dressed in a dusky dove blue Angela Kelly ensemble with matching hat, the Queen smiled as she received the salute as soldiers and officers returned from Horse Guards Parade following the conclusion of her birthday parade.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade in London on Thursday, June 2.

The Queen is joined by members of the royal family during her balcony appearance on Sunday. With her, from left, are Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Prince William; Prince George; Princess Charlotte; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; and Prince Louis.

Soldiers parade during the People's Pageant in London on Sunday.

Crowds watch the Queen's appearance in London on Sunday.

Ed Sheeran performs before the Queen's appearance.

Archive video of the Queen plays inside a Gold State Coach during the parade on Sunday.

Cakes celebrating the jubilee are displayed at a street party in Aylesford, England, on Sunday.

Sunday's parade had performers, military personnel and key workers walking down The Mall to bring to life many iconic moments from the Queen's reign.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, attend a Big Jubilee Lunch event Sunday in London. There were similar lunchtime events taking place in other communities across the country.

Revelers pose for pictures as they attend a party in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England, on Sunday.

People gather outside Windsor Castle for the Big Jubilee Lunch there on Sunday.

Children chalk a flag on the road during a street party in York, England, in Sunday.

Queen's Brian May delights concertgoers as the band — joined by Adam Lambert — opens a special show outside of Buckingham Palace on Saturday night. The two-and-a-half hour concert boasted an impressive lineup of stars.

Members of the royal family attend Saturday night's concert. In the center row, from left, are Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte; Prince George; and Prince William.

Rod Stewart performs on stage during Saturday night's concert, where he performed Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," a British karaoke classic.

Drones make a shape of a corgi dog — a Queen favorite — above the palace on Saturday night.

Prince Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, delivers a speech at Saturday night's concert. "You pledged to serve your whole life," he said of his mother, the Queen. "You continue to deliver. That is why we are here. That is what we celebrate tonight."

People cheer as they gather at The Mall for the concert outside Buckingham Palace.

Diana Ross appears on stage during the concert. The legendary singer closed the show with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

People gather along The Mall for Saturday night's concert.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte also joined their parents at a walkabout in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday. Their visit was part of the royal family's tour of all four regions of the United Kingdom.

Princess Anne, the Queen's only daughter, stands on the balcony of the royal box while attending the Epsom Derby horse race on Saturday. She was filling in for her mother, who has been a regular spectator at the event in past years.

Boys ride a bus in Epsom alongside cardboard cutouts of the Queen.

Princess Charlotte conducts a band next to her brother Prince George as they visited Cardiff Castle in Wales.

People dance during jubilee celebrations in London on Saturday.

People gather for a street party in Hayfield, England, on Saturday.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, depart St Paul's Cathedral in London after attending a service honoring the Queen on Friday. Harry and Meghan, who flew from the United States for the jubilee celebrations, were warmly welcomed by a crowd outside the service. Ahead of the event, there was much speculation in the British press over how the couple would be received following their decision to step back from the royal family and move to California two years ago.

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, smiles as she arrives at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday.

More than 400 people were invited to Friday's event recognizing the Queen's lifetime of service. The congregation included key workers, teachers and public servants as well as representatives from the Armed Forces, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups, according to Buckingham Palace. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was among those in the audience.

Prince Charles arrives for Friday's service. Another one of the Queen's sons, Prince Andrew, was notably absent after testing positive for Covid-19.

The theme of Friday's event was public service. It included Bible readings, prayers and congregational hymns to honor the Queen's 70 years on the British throne.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pauses while inside St Paul's Cathedral on Friday. Johnson was cheered and booed by the crowd when he arrived for the service.

A member of the military stumbles Friday while on duty ahead of the service.

A woman holds a cutout picture of the Queen while waiting outside St Paul's Cathedral on Friday.

People gather outside St Paul's Cathedral to watch the arrivals.

The Queen prepares to touch the Commonwealth of Nations Globe to start the lighting of the Principal Beacon outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

A Platinum Jubilee beacon is lit by Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and Commander of Edinburgh Garrison Lt. Col. Lorne Campbell at Scotland's Edinburgh Castle on Thursday. More than 1,500 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories would come together to light a beacon to mark the jubilee.

People pack The Mall in London for Thursday's Trooping the Colour parade.

The Queen walks out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Trooping the Colour parade.

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, waves during a carriage procession on Thursday. Joining her on the carriage were her three children — Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte — as well as Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Planes spell out the number 70 as they fly over Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

The Queen's great-grandson Prince Louis holds his hands over his ears during the six-minute flypast staged by the Royal Air Force. From left are Prince Charles; the Queen; Prince Louis; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; and Princess Charlotte.

A 124-gun salute is fired at the Tower of London as part of the Trooping the Colour parade.

The Trooping the Colour event involved 1,500 soldiers and officers, 400 musicians, 250 horses and 70 aircraft, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

Three of the Queen's great-grandchildren— from left, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte — ride in the carriage procession on Thursday.

Prince William, left, rides on horseback next to his father, Prince Charles, during the Trooping the Colour parade.

The Queen's Guard marches during the Trooping the Colour parade Thursday.

The Queen is joined by members of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony on Thursday.

Thousands of people flocked to central London for the celebrations Thursday.

A military band performs on Thursday.

Four of the Queen's great-grandchildren watch the parade from a window of Buckinghamp Palace on Thursday. From left are Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Mia Tindall.

A member of the Coldstream Guards holds souvenir programs ahead of the start of Thursday's parade.

Prince Edward, right, rides in a carriage along with his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and their children, James and Louise.

The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry takes part in the parade Thursday.

A man wears a Union Jack suit as people gather on The Mall for jubilee celebrations on Thursday.

Police officers line up on The Mall ahead of the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday.

A member of the Buckingham Palace staff cleans the balcony ahead of the Trooping the Colour parade on Thursday.

Crowds gather in London for the parade.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lights the Commonwealth Beacon for a jubilee celebration in Canberra, Australia, on Thursday.

Some royal fans had Union flags applied to their faces as they gathered along The Mall in London on Thursday.

People wear masks of the Queen and one of her dogs as they attend jubilee celebrations on The Mall on Thursday.

Anita Atkinson, who has collected more than 12,000 items of royal memorabilia, makes her way to a tea party in Durham on Thursday.

People sing the national anthem as they gather along The Mall on Thursday.

A boy poses with a Union flag on The Mall on Wednesday.

In pictures: Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee

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The “major military spectacle” – as it was described by the UK Ministry of Defence – involved “months of training and centuries of tradition,” as well as 1,500 soldiers and officers, 400 musicians, 250 horses and 70 aircraft.

Prince Charles, heir to the throne, represented his mother in the ceremonial role which she has traditionally undertaken. He rode on horseback, closely followed by his sister Princess Anne and his son, Prince William.

Household Division foot guards march in the Trooping the Colour parade.

Other members of the royal family rode down The Mall in carriages to the parade ground – among them Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by her three children and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

As the Colour of the Irish Guards was trooped at Horse Guards Parade, during which military bands played in formation and undertook a tricky manoeuvre called “the spinwheel,” other royals watched on from the Major General’s Office nearby.

A short while later, the Queen appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her cousin the Duke of Kent.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall rides in a carriage with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and family during the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Thursday.

In a second balcony appearance, she was joined by three of her four children, in addition to several family members. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex did not appear on the balcony as the Queen decided last month that only royals carrying out official duties would be included.

But earlier the Sussexes had watched the Trooping the Colour event with other royals from the Major General’s office near Horse Guards Parade, in their first public appearance with the royal family since they quit working as royals two years ago.

The Queen’s decision to only invite working royals onto the balcony also meant Prince Andrew, who was stripped of royal duties and his HRH title in January in the wake of his civil sexual assault lawsuit in the US, did not appear on the balcony. It later emerged that he will not be able to join his family members at Friday’s thanksgiving service either as he has tested positive for coronavirus. A royal source told CNN the duke had seen his mother in the last few days but has been undertaking regular testing and has not seen her since he tested positive.

For many, the highlight of the proceedings was the spectacular RAF flypast, an awe-inspiring air show involving 70 aircraft, including the Red Arrows.

There was, however, one person who did not seem overly impressed with the display – 4-year-old Prince Louis. The youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was pictured with his hands over his ears and pulling faces as the spectacle to celebrate his great-grandmother’s 70 years on the throne all proved a little overwhelming.

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Updated 3:25 AM EDT, Fri June 3, 2022

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See Prince Louis' reaction to royal flypast at Queen's jubilee

01:33 - Source: CNN

Nevertheless, his family did not appear to be remotely bothered by Prince Louis’ refusal to maintain protocol, as they smiled and chatted to each other while the planes continued to fly – even at one point arranged in formation to make up the number 70.

More than 3,000 beacons are being set alight across the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and in UK Overseas Territories. The principal beacon was lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The lighting of beacons is a long running royal tradition used to mark jubilees, weddings and coronations. Beacons will also be lit in the capital cities of Commonwealth countries.

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