'THANK YOU FOR SHOWING HOW SERVICE AND FAITHFULNESS MATTER'

DESPITE HER MAJESTY'S ABSENCE, THE ROYAL FAMILY ALL CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE HER 70-YEAR REIGN AT THE ST PAUL'S SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING

- LEBBY EYRES

After the iconic pictures of Her Majesty on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on the first day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, a delighted nation was looking forward to seeing her at the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.

But it was not to be. On Thursday afternoon, before the Queen lit the primary beacon at Windsor Castle, the palace announced that she had suffered some “discomfort” during the earlier Trooping The Colour.

The statement added, “Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s service, Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend.”

Attending the service would have meant another hour’s drive back into London, and even though a plan had been put in place to make proceedings as painless as possible – entering through a side door, for instance – it was judged that the effort would be too much for the monarch.

The Queen’s absence meant the spotlight fell on two other members of the royal family – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. On Thursday, we had a glimpse of the pair through a window as they watched the Trooping The Colour at Horse Guards Parade.

So when they arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral, it was lovely to see the couple with beaming smiles as the crowd cheered for them. Meghan, 40, looked elegant in a custom-made off-white Dior coat and matching hat. Harry, 37, wore a morning suit adorned with his medals.