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Halfway through the major events marking Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee, there is a feeling that the recognition of her seven decades on the throne has become an opportunity both to honor her and to contemplate the monarchy. of the future.
“I think there is great admiration for the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II and her lifelong devotion to public service, and the feeling that this is a historic event,” said Carolyn Harris, author and historian. Toronto-based royal, in an interview.
“There is a feeling that this is a time to celebrate the Queen and also a time of transition.”
Elizabeth appeared happy and in good shape on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Thursday during Trooping the Color, the military parade that is the traditional official recognition of the monarch’s birthday and was the first major Jubilee event.
But he chose not to attend St. Mary’s Cathedral. Paul in central London on Friday morning for a Thanksgiving service. It was a measure that may not have been surprising to someone who is 96 years old and has dealt with mobility issues, and many observers considered it a sensible decision after experiencing what palace officials called “discomfort.” “during thursday events.
From left, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Queen Elizabeth; Prince Louis; Kate, Duchess of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte; Prince George and Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Thursday. (Alastair Grant / The Associated Press)
No matter how sensible a decision may have been, there could also be some disappointment for the queen.
“She is a deeply religious and spiritual woman,” Royal Vanity Fair editor Katie Nicholl told CBC’s Adrienne Arsenault. “She will be very sorry not to be here today.”
The rest of the royal family, led by the heir and eldest son, Prince Charles, attended the service, which Harris described as a celebration of both the queen’s reign and that of her as an individual.
“There were some analogies of horse racing at the sermon, and we didn’t just see the working members of the royal family standing on the balcony. [Thursday]but the whole royal family extended. “
The day before, Charles made the greeting during Trooping the Color, the last reflection of the gradual transition that has been going on for several years as older family members take on more roles.
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Inside Windsor Castle: Hidden Treasures and Connections to Canada
As the Queen celebrates her platinum jubilee, CBC cameras can enter normally enclosed areas of Windsor Castle, to see the treasures and hear stories accumulated over 70 years.
None of this suggests that the Queen is in any way detached from what is happening in the House of Windsor.
“The Queen is still very active in receiving visitors to her palaces, reviewing her red boxes of documents, so it’s very clear that the Queen is still reigning and is very committed to everything that’s going on,” Harris said. .
“But events that require more physical endurance, we are seeing younger members of the royal family increase to a greater degree.”
As much as the events of the Jubilee have focused on marking the 70th anniversary of the queen as monarch, they also play against uncertainty and conflict within her own family.
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Caribbean Community on a complex relationship with the Crown
Members of the British Caribbean community are open to their conflicting relationship with the British monarchy, especially as more Caribbean countries push for change and try to secede from the Crown.
A diagnosis of COVID-19 for Prince Andrew, who recently settled a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse and has seen his reputation sink like a rock for his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, maintained the ninth in line for the throne away from Friday service. .
“There was no risk of him being seen in a prominent role in the cathedral,” Harris said. “Prince Andrew has faded into the background in the context of the Jubilee.”
There has also been a lot of interest in Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, given her decision to retire from official duties and the sense of tension and distance that has developed in her relationship with other members. of the family.
“Harry and Meghan were there watching Trooping the Color with other non-working royal family members … and were present with the extended royal family in the service of Thanksgiving,” Harris said. But in many ways, “some of the developments that are of most interest to the public about them and their relationship with the royal family have been developed behind closed doors.”
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive on Friday for a Thanksgiving service for Queen Elizabeth’s reign at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Paul, central London. (Alberto Pezzali / The Royal Fascinator)
Reports suggest that Queen Elizabeth met Harry and Meghan’s one-year-old daughter, Lilibet (her first birthday is on Saturday), for the first time on Thursday at a family luncheon.
Harris says it is speculated that “Harry and Meghan don’t want to overshadow the Queen’s platinum jubilee, so they have a more understated presence.”
Nicholl said he thought people would seek some public recognition, especially between Harry and Meghan and Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.
But this did not happen, at least not during the church service, where the order of arrival and departure, and the floor plan, kept them well separated.
“I think what people want is a sign of reconciliation,” Nicholl said.
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Veteran Victor Needham Crofton took part in the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. Nearly 70 years later, the former Royal Inniskilling Fusilier closely watched the monarch’s platinum jubilee.
For some who gathered on the streets of London for the Jubilee events, there was the feeling of being part of history and being trapped in a moment.
“We’re here because it’s an exciting day,” Sandy Larsen of Edmonton told Thomas Daigle of the CBC along the mall, which leads to Buckingham Palace on Thursday. “Is [a] unique in life. “
The jubilee events continue on Saturday with a concert and on Sunday with a street contest.
“It will be interesting to see how often we see the queen in public in the coming days,” said Harris, noting that she has been re-appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Charles, William and their son. Prince George.
“With the Queen’s mobility, it’s clear she’s wearing it day in and day out.”
All eyes on Louis
It all seemed a little too strong for Prince Louis on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with his family on Thursday. (Alastair Grant / The Associated Press)
Appearances on the balcony of Buckingham Palace may be full of symbolism and part of the royal tradition, but are sometimes striking for other reasons, namely the expressions of children who are less restrained in their reaction to the happening around him.
This was the case on Thursday, when it seemed that the cameras could not have enough with Prince Louis, the four-year-old son of Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, who was on the balcony with his older brothers, Prince George. and Princess Charlotte.
“We saw that Prince Louis and his reaction to the passage dominated much of the coverage and photography of Trooping the Color,” Harris said.
It wasn’t the first time a child’s reaction had attracted so much attention.
“We think of William and Catherine ‘s little bridesmaid, Grace van Cutsem [at the time of their 2011 wedding]that he had his hands over his ears in the face of all the applause, “Harris said.
For the children on the balcony, he said, “it’s a pretty overwhelming event, and it’s obvious that Prince Louis found it quite noisy.”
Still, there was another symbolism at work.
“The presence of the children of Cambridge also represents royal continuity,” said Harris, noting that those moments when the Queen leaned in to talk to Louis showed her her role as a great-grandmother and the matriarch of a great extended royal family.
Encounter with the dragon
The Hatchling, a giant human-powered dragon puppet, will take part in a pageant on Sunday that marks part of Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee. (Lily Martin / CBC)
Amidst the moments of street art, theater, music, circus and carnival that will be played on Sunday during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London, there will be a choreographed dance sequence showing a princess meeting a dragon.
As fantastic as the encounter with the giant dragon puppet of human power is, it will also be rich in symbolism for the occasion and for the monarch whose 70 years of service are being honored.
The Hatchling Dragon Puppet, the size of a double-decker bus, will be operated by about 15 puppeteers at a time.
“We are creating a work where [the Hatchling] get in touch with the princess, “Angie Bual, creative director of the production company behind Hatchling, told Thomas Daigle of CBC.
“The princess sees the dragon, and the dragon symbolizes wisdom, power, strength. And the princess really accepts her future and her destiny.”
Bual hopes Queen Elizabeth will see both nostalgia and humor in the sequence that unfolds during the two-and-a-half-hour pageant, which is the culmination of four days of Jubilee events.
Mikey Brett will be among the puppeteers operating the Hatchling Dragon Puppet during the Jubilee pageant on Sunday in central London. (Lily Martin / CBC)
“The queen has been a powerful female role model. And I think women around the world could feel …