LIVE REPORTING
Catch-up
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Day 2 – Service begins
Day 2 of Jubliee: What time is the Jubilee service today?
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – LIVE Coverage: The lighting of the beacons
Prince Louis on Buckingham Palace balcony – little royal steals show
LIVE Coverage: Queen and royals to appear on balcony
LIVE Coverage: Trooping the Colour in central London, royals on balcony
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Day 2 – Crowds gather, guests arrive
Watch the arrival of senior royals
Crowds gather outside St Paul’s Cathedral – (BBC)
Crowds hoping to get a glimpse of the Royal Family and guests have started to build up outside St Paul’s Cathedral.
One man tells the BBC he camped out overnight to get the perfect view.
A woman says she has been at the cathedral since early this morning – “It’s wonderful to be here – fabulous atmosphere.”
Another woman, who travelled from Northern Ireland, speaking on the Queen’s absence from the service, says: “We’re disappointed. [But] we totally understand.”
News crews from around the world have also gathered outside St Paul’s.
At 10:50, Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, will be rung for five minutes, followed by a peel of bells until 11:25.
Then at 11:30, a national service of thanksgiving will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral to give thanks for the Queen’s seven decades as monarch.
The service will include bible readings, prayers and hymns, to recognise and give thanks for the Queen’s reign, faith and lifetime of service.
Following the service, the Lord Mayor of London and City of London Corporation will host a reception for members of the Royal Family and the congregation at 12:25 at Guildhall.
Public service theme – (BBC)
The theme of public service is at the heart of today’s event. More than 400 people from all four nations of the UK have been invited in recognition of their contribution to public life at a community and national level – many for their work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Day 2 of Jubliee: What time is the Jubilee service today?
Friday is the second day of the platinum jubilee celebrations, which marks the Queen’s 70-year reign.
Yesterday, thousands of people gathered to watch the Trooping the Colour – an incredible spectacle of soldiers, musicians and horses marching up The Mall to Buckingham Palace. But today’s events will be quieter and much more private.
There will be a Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen taking place at St Paul’s Cathedral – bringing together most members of the royal family. However, the queen herself will not be in attendance after experiencing “some discomfort” during Thursday’s events.
The statement said: “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.
“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.”
Prince Andrew is also not attending after he tested positive for Covid. There was speculation he could attend – to much criticism from the public, in what would have been his second public appearance since he reached a settlement in the sexual abuse case brought against him.
The Duke denies the claims against him. But in February he agreed to pay millions to settle the civil case.
Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to attend today service – their first time they have returned to the UK with Archie and their daughter Lili since they stepped down from royal duties in 2020.
The Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison, said: “It is a great honour to hold a Service of Thanksgiving for the reign of Her Majesty the Queen and to celebrate her 70 years of service to the UK and the Commonwealth.”
The service will also see Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, be rung for a royal occasion for the first time
It will be broadcast on BBC One from 9.15am, although members of the royal family are only expected to arrive from approximately 11am.
Prince Louis on Buckingham Palace balcony – little royal steals show
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