Jubilee

Britain celebrates the second day of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee on Friday, with the highlight a service of thanksgiving attended by senior royals ...

The service will include Bible readings, prayers, and hymns to express gratitude for Elizabeth's reign. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Opinion polls show she remains hugely popular and respected among British people. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com She has now been on the throne for longer than any of her predecessors in 1,000 years, and is the third-longest reigning monarch ever of a sovereign state.

Queen Elizabeth II made several public appearances Thursday as Britain began four days of a Platinum Jubilee honoring her 70 years as monarch.

The queen had initially been scheduled to attend but canceled to “pace herself” through the weekend, according to the BBC, and then also canceled her appearance on Friday after experiencing “discomfort” on the first day of festivities. The queen had initially been expected to attend Friday’s event, but Buckingham Palace said late Thursday that she had decided to skip the service after experiencing discomfort on a busy first day of festivities. The celebrations are timed to coincide with her official Queen’s Birthday, an annual public holiday, although Elizabeth’s actual birthday is April 21. Her daughter, Princess Anne, will attend on her behalf. She has complained of trouble walking in the past, and has canceled several other public engagements, including the state opening of Parliament last month. He has been largely banished from public life because of his association with Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier and convicted sex offender. Her grandson Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, did not attend the initial events but are invited to a jubilee service on Friday. The palace did not say whether he was experiencing symptoms. Andrew, scarred by his association with Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier and convicted sex offender, has been sent into a form of internal exile. Other recent health issues prompted her to miss some public appearances. (He has since stepped down as president of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.) Buckingham Palace announced the lineup well in advance, seeking to avert weeks of speculation about whether they would be invited.

Members of Britain's royal family will head to St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Friday for a jubilee thanksgiving service in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's ...

The Dean of St Paul's, David Ison, is leading the service, which will include Bible readings, prayers and congregational hymns to honor the Queen's 70 years on the British throne. Friday's event is the first royal occasion at which it rung out since its restoration in 2021. They were seated in the second row, alongside Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, the daughters of Prince Andrew, and their husbands. Keaveny leads London's financial district, known as the Square Mile. Prince Charles is representing the Queen at the thanksgiving service. The congregation includes key workers, teachers and public servants as well as representatives from the Armed Forces, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups, according to Buckingham Palace. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and London Mayor Sadiq Khan are also among those in the audience.