No Queen, but royals, leaders at service

Michael Holden and Kate Holton | June 3, 2022

Britain’s royal family and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have attended a service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth, the second day of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, although the monarch herself was missing.

Four days of events kicked off on Thursday, when a beaming Queen waved to crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after a military parade and Royal Air Force flypast.

The monarch later led the lighting of the Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon at her Windsor Castle home.

The celebrations continued with a National Service of Thanksgiving at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral to pay tribute to the sovereign’s 70 years on the throne.

But the Queen, who is 96 and has been forced to cancel a series of engagements recently due to “episodic mobility problems”, reluctantly pulled out of Friday’s service.

Buckingham Palace said she had experienced “some discomfort” during Thursday’s events, and the journey to London from Windsor Castle, where she spends most of her time these days, and the activity involved for the service was too much.

Son and heir Prince Charles, 73, instead represented the Queen, a devout Christian and also the titular head of the Church of England. 

She will watch the service on television at her home in Windsor Castle near London.

Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, said of the Queen’s absence, “we are all disappointed” but “we want her to be well”. 

“I think she’s been magnificent so far over this week, and she should look after herself, she should pace herself, and it’s fine: please God, she should live many, many more years in good health,” he told BBC TV outside St Paul’s.

Also absent from the service was the Queen’s second son Prince Andrew, 62, who has tested positive for COVID-19.

That potentially spares the royals some awkwardness, with Andrew’s reputation shattered after he settled a US lawsuit in February in which he had been accused of sexually abusing a woman when she was underage, claims he denied.

However, the Queen’s grandson Prince Harry and wife Meghan were there, making their first public appearance together in Britain since stepping down from royal duties two years ago. 

They were greeted by cheers and a few boos on their arrival.

The couple moved to the US to lead a more independent life, and have since delivered some stinging attacks on Buckingham Palace and the royal family.

The service features Bible readings, prayers, and hymns to express gratitude for Elizabeth’s reign. Among the congregation were political figures from Britain and across the world.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who will give a reading, was met by a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd outside the cathedral, reflecting recent public anger over his conduct in office.

After the service, a reception will be held at the Guildhall hosted by the lord mayor of London.