Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee is officially underway, but Britain’s longest-reigning monarch was forced to pull out of Friday’s Thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s due to ‘discomfort’. The Platinum Jubilee is meant to celebrate the life and legacy of the Queen, who has remarkably spent 70 years on the throne.
“The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s Birthday Parade and Flypast but did experience some discomfort,” the Palace revealed in a statement. “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 Forced To PULL OUT of Thanksgiving Celebration During Platinum Jubilee
While unable to attend the upcoming Thanksgiving festivities, Queen Elizabeth II did manage to uphold her prior commitments for the first day. “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,” the official statement said.
The milestone Jubilee kicked off on June 2, and so far the Queen has made three appearances at the event, including lighting the first of 3,500 beacons at Windsor Castle on Thursday evening. The 96-year-old royal, who is currently the longest-reigning British monarch in history, has had no choice but to cancel a series of scheduled appearances due to health concerns and ‘mobility issues’.
Most recently, Queen Elizabeth II had to opt out of the State Opening of Parliament and Prince Charles and Prince William ultimately stood in her place.
The Platinum Jubilee spans the course of an entire weekend from Thursday until Sunday. The grand finale consists of an extravagant pageant to celebrate the extraordinary life of the Queen. The British monarch was spotted on the palace balcony in the afternoon of the first day of the Jubilee looking festive in a powder blue ensemble with her walking cane in-hand. She appeared vibrant and in good spirits, but her comfort level reportedly deteriorated as the day went on.
The Queen’s recent health troubles may not come as a surprise, as the aging royal has been around for almost a century. Her mobility may be more limited than it was before, but the Queen still has a sharp mind and a sense of humor. Earlier this year, the Queen poked fun at herself, saying, “Well, as you can see, I can’t move!”
As the Jubilee goes on, it will be interesting to see how much of the event the Queen will be able to attend. While her presence is greatly desired, her health is an obvious top priority.
