The festivities in honor of the 70 years of the historic reign of Elizabeth II continue in London. The British royal family meets on Friday June 3 for a mass celebrating the 96-year-old sovereign. But the latter will not participate, apparently tired by the first day of this jubilee. announcing his absence “unwillingly” Thursday evening, Buckingham Palace explained it with a “some discomfort” felt during the day. The queen, who has difficulty walking, appeared twice on the balcony of the palace.
Harry and Meghan’s first public appearance. The mass at St Paul’s Cathedral is to mark the first public appearance of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan in the UK since leaving for California two years ago. The return of the couple and their two young children for the celebrations has already caused a lot of hostile ink to flow. “You are not welcome at the jubilee”, wrote last week in the DailyMail Amanda Platell, former spokesperson for former Conservative leader William Hague. “Don’t dare to steal the lights directed at the queen”also warned in the tabloid The Sun the royal photographer Arthur Edwards.
Prince Andrew positive for Covid-19. Prince Andrew, 62, will also not attend this mass. The palace announced on Thursday that it had caught Covid and would be absent “with regret” of this religious ceremony. Second son of the queen, he no longer has any official role since accusations of sexual assault in connection with the Epstein affair in the United States, which he put an end to by paying several million dollars. Thus, last March, his appearance on the arm of the sovereign at Westminster Abbey, for the ceremony in memory of Prince Philip who died last year, was poorly received by part of British public opinion.
400 guests. Some 400 people are expected at the religious service, all distinguished for their contribution to the life of the country, including teachers, caregivers, representatives of the armed forces or charities. The Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Anglican Church who was to officiate, canceled because he was suffering from Covid. He was succeeded by the Bishop of York.
The Queen took part in the nighttime illumination ceremony. At windsor castle, Elizabeth II launched, shortly after 9:30 p.m. (London time), “Beacon Lighting”, a British tradition of lighting beacons in honor of the sovereign. In a precise ceremony, the queen touched a small globe representing the Commonwealth countries with her gloved hand, which instantly lit a huge sculpture representing a 21-meter-high tree at Buckingham Palace, 40 km away. . Thousands of traffic lights are also to be switched on across the UK and Commonwealth countries.
A concert on Saturday and a party between neighbors on Sunday. The celebrations will continue on Saturday with a large evening concert in front of Buckingham Palace, before thousands of lunches and popular parties between neighbors on Sunday, and a huge parade through the streets of London in the evening, with nearly 10,000 participants.