Queen Elizabeth Backs Out Of The Friday Platinum Jubilee Service Due To 'Discomfort'

The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, has decided not to attend the second day of celebrations for her platinum jubilee achievement on the throne. The second day was to include a national service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, but the festivities will continue without her majesty.

The latest announcement has made many people in England and all over the world worry about the monarch’s health. The withdrawal comes not long after the Palace’s confirmation of her mobility problems. Read on to learn more about her health and the platinum jubilee celebration.

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace (Via Deadline), the Queen expressed how sad and reluctant she is to have to stay away from the festivities. It is also confirmed that her son, Prince Charles, will represent her at the ceremony, which is to be televised as part of the celebrations for her 70th year on the throne.

The decision to skip the ceremony was due to the discomfort she experienced while attending Thursday’s celebrations, which were the first full day of festivities. In light of her recent health issues, such as her episodic mobility problems, doctors felt she should get some rest.

Many people expressed on social media that they were disappointed that Queen Elizabeth was skipping the ceremony but also wished her full recovery and better health. The Queen had previously scaled down all her work commitments to give her time to prepare for the four-day Jubilee weekend.

Despite her declining health, Queen Elizabeth will still participate in the beacon ceremony on Thursday evening. There will be 3,500 beacons lit up across the UK and in the capital cities of the 54 Commonwealth countries she still rules over.

The Queen’s grandson, Prince William, will light up the first beacon outside Buckingham Palace in London, just as the Queen touches a globe from the comfort of her home in Windsor Castle. Luckily for people in the UK, they already got to see the Queen when she appeared on the famous Royal Balcony of Buckingham Palace to launch the celebrations.

The Queen wasn’t the only one to stand on the balcony for the launch ceremony. She was joined by Prince Charles, Prince William, and his wife, Duchess Kate Middleton, and their three children. Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, watched the Trooping the Colour ceremony from the Major General’s office. They are expected to be at the thanksgiving service with the rest of the family.

The Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force then performed their flypast, with a squadron of 15 typhoons, forming a number 70 in the sky to signify the 70 years Queen Elizabeth had spent on the throne. The Red Arrows concluded the flypast as nine Hawks streamed red, white, and blue smoke, and not long after, the Queen left the balcony with her family.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that the 96-year-old monarch had reevaluated her work schedule and public appearances earlier this year due to the recent increase in health scares and “episodic mobility problems.” The new schedule has Queen Elizabeth living and working full-time from Windsor Castle instead of Buckingham Palace.

Most of her meetings with dignitaries and the Prime Minister occur there, although she has made several external visits for events like Prince Philip’s thanksgiving ceremony. Her health scares include the time she tested positive for COVID-19 in February with mild symptoms and had to go into isolation.

Her episodic mobility issues were also a major reason she had to cancel several appearances from March to May. In May, the Palace announced that the Queen had yielded to advice from her doctors that she allow Prince Charles, Prince William, and her counselors of state to represent her at the State Opening of Parliament.