- Queen withdrew from the service after experiencing discomfort
- Second day of the celebrations on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the throne
- Grandson Prince Harry and wife Megan appear
- Prime Minister Johnson mocked some on arrival
LONDON, June 3 (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth, who loves horses, was grateful to be in the saddle for 70 years as head of state on Friday to celebrate her platinum anniversary, an event that she missed due to ongoing mobility problems.
Other senior members of the royal family joined a congregation of politicians, philanthropists and groups supported by the Queen for the National Thanksgiving Service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London to pay tribute to the sovereign’s record-breaking rule.
Four days of festivities began Thursday as the radiant Elizabeth waved to crowds from Buckingham Palace balcony after a parade and a Royal Air Force flight, and later illuminated the main platinum jubilee lighthouse at her home in Windsor Castle. Read more
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The 96-year-old, who was recently forced to cancel a series of engagements due to an “episodic mobility problem”, reluctantly resigned on Friday after experiencing “some discomfort” the day before.
Elizabeth, a devout Christian and also the head of the Church of England, watches television in her residence at Windsor Castle near London.
Her son and heir, Prince Charles, 73, represented her while much attention was paid to her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Megan, who made their first public appearance together in Britain after retiring two years ago. Read more
The couple moved to the United States to lead a more independent life, and have since carried out several vicious attacks on Buckingham Palace and the royal family. They were greeted with applause and a few booers on arrival.
DURABILITY
Noting the Queen’s well-known love of horse racing, York Archbishop Stephen Cottrell said in a sermon that her rule reflected the distance of the Grand National, the famous, grueling steeplechase, and not the Epsom Derby sprint.
“But with endurance in times of change and challenge, joy and sorrow, you continue to offer yourself to the service of our country and the British community,” he said.
People take pictures in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral during the National Thanksgiving Service, held as part of the celebrations on the occasion of the platinum anniversary of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, in London, UK, June 3, 2022. REUTERS / Dylan Martinez
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“Your Majesty, we are sorry that you are not here with us this morning, but we are so happy that you are still in the saddle. And we are glad that there is still something to come. So thank you for staying on the course. “
Also missing from Friday’s service was her second son, Prince Andrew, 62, who tested positive for COVID-19. Read more
This potentially saves royalty some inconvenience, as Andrew’s reputation collapsed after he settled a lawsuit in the United States in February in which he was accused of sexually abusing a woman when she was a minor, he said he denied.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who delivered the reading, was greeted by a mixture of applause and booing from the crowd in front of the cathedral, reflecting recent public outrage over his behavior in office. Read more
The service was followed by a reception at Guildhall, hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London and attended by some of the royalty and politicians.
Thursday marked not only the beginning of the jubilee, but also the 69th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth, who became queen after the death of her father George VI in February 1952 and is head of state in 14 other countries, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. .
It has now been on the throne longer than any of its 1,000-year-old predecessors and is the third longest-ruling monarch ever in a sovereign state. Opinion polls show that it remains extremely popular and respected among Britons.
Tributes poured in from around the world, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un adding his own congratulations to those of US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Pope Francis. Read more
Roxy Kishor-Bigord, 51, who was in front of St. Paul to see the guests arriving, said it was disappointing that the queen could not attend.
“We want her to be well, we want her to continue,” she told Reuters. “We are happy that she will probably watch from home and we hope she will see how much she is loved and appreciated.
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Report by Michael Holden and Kate Holton in London, edited by Rosalba O’Brien and Gareth Jones
Our standards: Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust.
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