The Queen will not attend the Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday morning, Buckingham Palace said.
The Palace said the decision was made after Her Majesty experienced some discomfort following the parade that marked the start of her platinum jubilee celebrations on Thursday.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “The Queen really enjoyed the birthday parade and today’s Flypast, but she did experience some discomfort.
“Considering the trip and the activity necessary to participate in tomorrow’s National Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, His Majesty, with great reluctance, has concluded that he will not attend.
“The Queen is looking forward to attending tonight’s Beacon Lighting Event at Windsor Castle and would like to thank all those who have made such a memorable occasion today.”
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One of the most significant celebrations of the Jubilee is the Service of Thanksgiving, which marks the Queen’s position as spiritual leader and head of the Church of England.
The 96-year-old monarch has been involved in fewer public tasks in recent months due to mobility issues.
But on Thursday morning she was seen greeting thousands of supporters from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
She was accompanied by other members of the royal family, including the Dukes and Duchess of Cambridge with their three children, Prince Charles and Camilla and the Duke of Kent, for Trooping the Color, the annual event that kicked off the celebrations.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also arrived in London from their home in the United States to join in the celebrations, but were not seen on the balcony.
The palace said on Thursday earlier that Prince Andrew had tested positive for Covid-19 and would therefore miss the Thanksgiving service on Friday.
Members of the royal family are expected to see the lighting of the palace’s main lighthouse, a 21-meter-tall tree-lined sculpture, on Thursday evening, and the queen’s attendance has been confirmed.
After tomorrow’s Thanksgiving service, the royal family is scheduled to attend a Guildhall reception hosted by the Lord Mayor at 12:25 p.m.
The queen will attend the Epsom Derby race on Saturday, where the monarch will be greeted with an honor guard.
Members of the Royal Family will then head to the Platinum Party concert at the BBC Palace, which starts at 8pm and features stars such as Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran and Diana Ross, which will be broadcast live on BBC One.
On Sunday, there will be street parties and large jubilee lunches across the country, while the Jubilee Pageant will begin at 2:30 p.m., with Commonwealth performers narrating the most important chapters of Her Majesty’s reign.