As the Royal Family arrived for today’s thanksgiving ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral, cheers erupted around the cathedral, marking the second day of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Charles is filling in for the king, who had to’reluctantly’ withdraw from today’s event after experiencing ‘discomfort’ during the Trooping the Colour.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had flown in from California to attend the celebrations, were present in the church. The Duke of York, on the other hand, was conspicuously absent after ‘testing positive for Covid.’
As Harry and Meghan arrived, a standing ovation erupted, and the Dean of St Paul’s met them at the great west door.
They spoke with the senior cleric for a few minutes before entering the house of worship and greeting the long line of clergy who are attending today’s Thanksgiving ceremony.
Harry paused for a brief conversation with the Archbishop of York, who will deliver the sermon later in the day and is anticipated to praise the Queen’s 70-year reign.
They then took their seats with other family members, as well as Boris Johnson and former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron.
Despite a standing ovation, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s decision to attend drew mixed emotions from the throng outside St Paul’s.
‘I am happy they showed up,’ Natalie Mahoney, 32, a communications cellular worker from Stoke, said.
They are considered outsiders by most people, but family is family. By coming here today, they did a nice deed. They have demonstrated respect for the Queen, which is the most important thing.’
‘I assume they came here for their own goals,’ said Christopher Matthews, 56, a retired engineer from Knutsford, Cheshire. And that is to be a member of the Royal family when they so desire.
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Isn’t this supposed to be a documentary? They won’t be able to stop talking about it, I’m sure. Their decision to opt out could have caused a lot of damage to the Royal family, but Her Majesty masterfully held things together.’
‘Never complain, never explain is her approach,’ he remarked when asked if The Queen would have liked the couple not to come. She is the only one who knows. Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, will never be the same.’
‘Family is family no matter what,’ Mel Quash, from Cheshunt, added. As a result, it’s great to see them here. Many unjust things have been said about them, and many people do not know who they are.
‘Despite living in America, Harry and Meghan have participated in a historic day and demonstrated that they are still members of the Royal Family.’
After a busy start to the Jubilee festivities on Thursday, the Queen is expected to recuperate at her Berkshire estate after watching the ceremony at St Paul’s on television from Windsor Castle.
Hundreds of people have gathered, some wearing Union Jack caps and others draping flags and bunting over the railings on the way to the cathedral, despite the crowds appearing to be lower than those seen during the Trooping the Colour festivities yesterday.
Thousands of well-wishers flocked to St Paul’s Cathedral to express their gratitude to The Queen, resolute not to let Her Majesty’s absence from the thanksgiving ceremony ruin the occasion.
For the Jubilee weekend, one Union flag-waving enthusiast traveled all the way from the United States.
‘I met the Queen Mother in 1985 on a social work exchange,’ Regina Schedler, a senior citizen and social worker from Pennsylvania, recalled. It was a noble act.
‘It was one-of-a-kind, and she was a very extraordinary woman.’
‘She has guided her country, and it is a fantastic experience to be a part of the Jubilee,’ she said of the Queen. We are extremely fortunate.’
Jennie Lusa, 39, from Michigan, and her friend Caroline Peterson, 41, a copywriter from Hawaii, were among those shouting and waving at Prince William as he left St Paul’s.
‘I was up north trekking along Hadrian’s Wall and had some spare time when I discovered the Jubilee was going on, so I extended my stay and came down,’ Ms Peterson said.
‘All we’re going to do now is enjoy the moment and the throng, depending on how dense they are.’
‘I think 70 years is quite incredible and spectacular, and I’m liking how British people are reacting to it.’
Michael Enwright, 53, a production manager for NHS surgical equipment, and his son-in-law Matthew Hilton, 35, had traveled from Basildon, Essex, with their six-year-old grandson.
‘There is nothing greater than the Queen,’ Mr Enwright remarked.
She has been the country’s leader for the past 70 years. Without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a She has a strong personality.
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‘My first was the Silver Jubilee,’ said Sarah Sillett, 57, a media professional from London. We will never see another 70 years. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have a great deal of admiration for the Queen.
‘I believe some of the behavior of other members of the family is disheartening and does not reflect the Royal Family or the monarchy as an institution.’
‘I am pro-monarchy,’ she remarked of the monarchy. I believe it brings togetherness to a country that may be very divided.’
Ms Sillett was joined by her friend Jane Burwell, a 56-year-old London PA, at the parade.
‘I think it’s fantastic,’ Ms Burwell remarked. What occurred yesterday, the flag-waving, the whole event, impacted me deeply.
‘The Queen expressed her wish for good memories to be made over the weekend.’ The Royal Family is a gift to us.’
‘I came here with a group of friends because we think this may be the last time we would be able to see her Majesty in person,’ Julie Feehan, a BT employee in Cardiff, said.
‘I’m sure she’s as disappointed as we are that she won’t be able to attend, but no one will hold it against her.’ She’s done an outstanding job.’
‘She is 96 years old,’ said her friend Alison Davies. And we all know how difficult that can be. But her smiles yesterday demonstrated how much she values us and how much we value her.’
‘She has held the monarchy together,’ said Joseph Afrane, 58, a security guard from Battersea, London, who was dressed in a Union Jack coat and bowler hat.
‘There will be natural disappointment that Her Majesty cannot be here,’ said Prebendary Alan Green, who was officiating at the thanksgiving ceremony.
‘I’m a Republican,’ says the speaker. But I believe we must honor the Queen for the outstanding service she has rendered to this country. I believe the monarchy and the Queen can be distinguished.
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She is a truly remarkable person who has done so much in her life.’
‘Her Majesty has given Amanda service to our country,’ said Iain Macaulay, Lord-Lieutenant of the Western Isles, who was appointed by the Queen in March.
‘It’s a pity she won’t be able to attend the memorial service.’ But she will be watching, and she will notice how much gratitude exists in this country for the services she has provided.
‘I understand why she is unable to attend. She is 96 years old, and things are certainly more difficult at that age. ‘However, we cannot express our gratitude enough for the 70 years Mom has given us.’
Today’s service will be Harry and Meghan’s first with The Firm since the tense Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020, just before they officially stood down as senior royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, on the other hand, are hoping to keep a low profile during their visit to the UK, according to a royal analyst.
‘I spoke with people close to the couple… who claimed that they wish to be as low-profile as possible during this trip,’ Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom, told BBC Breakfast.
‘It’s almost hard to believe, but I believe Trooping the Colour was an excellent example yesterday.’ We didn’t see them on the television cameras.’
He went on to say that the pair has a ‘warm and close’ relationship.
‘I have done some amateur dramatics, and despite Her Majesty not being able to see for herself the adulation that there is for her, the play must go on,’ said John Aylard, 77, of Kentish Town, London.
‘We have been extremely fortunate to have served our country for 70 years.’ ‘May it continue for a long time.’
‘We’re down for the weekend to experience the events,’ said Joanna Evans, who traveled to the Royal Borough with her husband Mark from Birmingham.
We will never see anything like this again in our lives, so we decided that this would be the ideal location for the jubilee.’
Brett Hawkins and his wife flew from London to Windsor. The Denver, Colorado couple planned their trip to the UK to coincide with the jubilee.
‘It’s nice to be here for these events,’ Brett, 65, remarked. We decided to come here instead of the Queen’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s because we heard she wouldn’t be there. This is our first visit to Windsor. This town’s history is fascinating.
‘It’s wonderful that Prince Harry and Meghan are here, and that the Queen has finally seen her granddaughter Lilibet.’ I’m sure that will make her birthday celebrations much more memorable.’
Today, special festivities are taking place in the Royal town, including a Jubilee Jamboree held within the Castle grounds.
The event will include a variety of family activities, such as interactive workshops where youngsters can dress up and learn about Her Majesty’s 70-year reign.
A beach rugby competition and an open day at the Windsor Guildhall, where Prince Charles married second wife Camilla in April 2005 and Sir Elton John and David Furnish held one of Britain’s first same-sex civil partnership ceromonies, are among the other festivities in the Royal town.
This evening, a music concert will be held in St George’s Chapel, which is located within the grounds of the palace where Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in May 2018.
The sold-out event will comprise music from around the British Isles that has been used on royal occasions, including some composed during The Queen’s reign and others produced just for the occasion.
