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Queen Elizabeth II pulls out of jubilee service due to 'discomfort'
Queen Elizabeth II appeared at Buckingham Palace on Thursday during the festivities and participated in a beacon lighting ceremony from Windsor Castle in the evening. However, she 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.
Buckingham Palace released a statement saying, “The Queen greatly enjoyed today's Birthday Parade and Flypast but did experience some discomfort. 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.”
Earlier in the day today, she 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 Queen was 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. 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.
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.