Friday 3 June marks the second day of the platinum jubilee weekend, which began on Thursday with the Queen’s birthday parade.
While the Trooping the Colour event saw thousands of people gathering to watch the spectacle of soldiers, musicians and horses marching up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, today’s events are expected to be much quieter and more private.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen’s 70-year reign will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral, bringing together most members of the royal family for the first time since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in 2018.
However, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that the Queen will miss the service after experiencing “some discomfort” during Thursday’s platinum jubilee celebrations.
The statement said: “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.
“The Queen is looking forward to participating in tonight’s beacon lighting event at Windsor Castle, and would like to thank all those who made today such a memorable occasion.”
The Duke of York will also no longer attend the service after testing positive for Covid-19.
Prince Andrew was set to join the wider royal family at the event in what would have been only his second public appearance since he reached a settlement in the sexual abuse case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre.
The Duke claimed he has no recollection of ever meeting Giuffre and vehemently denies her allegations against him.
In February, he agreed to pay millions to settle the civil case. He has been largely absent from royal duties since he stepped down from public life in 2019, following the furore over his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still expected to attend the Service of Thanksgiving. Their family’s presence in the UK marks the first time they have returned to British soil with their son Archie and months-old daughter Lilibet since they stepped down from royal duties in 2020.
The Sussexes’ visit will also be the first time senior members of the royal family, including the Queen, will meet Lilibet, who was born in the US on 4 June 2021.
The Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison, said: “It is a great honour to hold a Service of Thanksgiving for the reign of Her Majesty the Queen and to celebrate her 70 years of service to the UK and the Commonwealth.”
The service will also see Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, be rung for a royal occasion for the first time.
It will be broadcast on BBC One from 9.15am, although members of the royal family are only expected to arrive from approximately 11am.
Additional reporting by PA
