Queen to miss major Platinum Jubilee event due to ‘discomfort’

The Queen will pull out of a major event to mark her Platinum Jubilee due to “discomfort,” Buckingham Palace has said.

The announcement came just hours after she had taken to the Palace balcony with members of the Royal Family to greet well wishers. It’s also emerged Prince Andrew has tested positive for Covid-19 and saw the Queen just days ago.

However she will still take part in an event on Thursday evening.

On Friday, the Queen was set to join the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral in central London. She would have been part of a large contingent including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who have jetted in from the US.

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The Queen has a deep faith and missing the religious service would have not been any easy decision.

Nonetheless, Buckingham Palace has said she will no longer be in attendance at St Paul’s.

“The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s birthday parade and fly-past but did experience some discomfort,” a statement said.

“Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving, 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.”
 

On Thursday, the Queen appeared from Buckingham Palace with a walking stick to begin four days of public events to mark her historic Platinum Jubilee. The Jubilee marks 70 years of the Queen’s reign.

The 96-year-old was seen using a walking stick as she made her way onto the balcony with her cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, 86. She was later joined by the extended family but there were some big names left out of the photo op including princes Harry and Andrew.

Though her appearance at the event had been in doubt after facing mobility problems, the aid of a walking stick and a bill of good health over the last few weeks allowed the monarch to take a salute from mounted troops from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, under the fluttering royal standard.

Andrew tests positive for Covid

It has emerged Prince Andrew has come down with Covid and will also miss the religious service.

The scandal plagued prince had already been sidelined from most events.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the Duke of York’s positive result on Thursday.

“After undertaking a routine test the Duke has tested positive for Covid and with regret will no longer be attending tomorrow’s service,” a spokesman for the palace said.

Andrew was last seen horse riding, seemingly in fine health, on Wednesday close to Windsor Castle, according to Sky News UK.

It’s also understood that he saw the Queen in recent days. That could be a worry considering the full weekend of activities the Queen has planned and her frail health.

The BBC said that Andrew had undergone regular testing and had not seen the Queen since he tested positive.