London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Queen’s absence strikes symbolic note as royals gather at jubilee service

Queen’s absence strikes symbolic note as royals gather at jubilee service

Charles stands in for his mother at St Paul’s Cathedral in ceremony that pays tribute to her seven-decade reign

The symbolism of a great state service of thanksgiving for an absent Queen was not lost beneath the imposing dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. All the more so as the country was paying tribute to her seven decades of public service as Britain’s now longest-reigning monarch.

The Prince of Wales was in her stead for the formal procession through a 2,000-strong congregation of prime ministers past and present, parliamentarians, diplomats, a full squad of other royals and 400 members of the public honoured for their community work.

As the archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said in his hastily rewritten sermon, the horse-loving Queen, 96, is “still in the saddle”. But it seemed a moment to recognise that her presence, taken for granted at such grand public events, is no longer guaranteed due to the mobility problems that have plagued her platinum jubilee year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had flown in at the Queen’s invitation, made their first public appearance with other members of the royal family since their exit from royal duties and relocation to California two years ago.

A 2,000-strong congregation gathered for the ceremony at St Paul’s.


Necks craned as the couple walked to their seats, smiling and hand in hand, having arrived to cheers – and some jeers –from the crowd outside. They arrived by car shortly after the long line of other assorted royals who earlier had disgorged from a coach to file into the cathedral.

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, read from the New Testament. As he and his wife, Carrie, had arrived at the cathedral, loud boos, followed by some cheers, could be heard from onlookers outside.


Seeing Charles in his mother’s seat was as palpable an image of the quiet transition ongoing behind palace walls as when he read the Queen’s speech at the state opening of parliament.

Harry, in morning dress, wore his medals, including a commemorative platinum jubilee medal, apparently distributed throughout working and non-working royals and funded privately.

Harry and Meghan departed hand in hand too and were seen chatting easily to relatives such as Harry’s cousin Zara Tindall and her brother Peter Phillips.

If Thursday’s trooping the colour and Sunday’s jubilee pageant provide the spectacle, then this procession at St Paul’s, a cathedral to national celebration and commemoration, was the spiritual heart of the jubilee, as it has been for jubilees as far back as George III.

The Queen may have been watching it on TV, many miles away at Windsor Castle, but the rest of the family were out in force.

But for lip-readers and body-language experts hired to mine any morsels on the relations between Harry and Charles, said not to have been enhanced by the accusations of racism and indifference the couple have made in US TV interviews, there was little to go on.

Indicative of their new, more minor position within the royal family, the Sussexes were seated a row behind and on the other side of the aisle from William and Kate, and Charles and Camilla. It did not appear they interacted much throughout the service, though that would have been difficult given the physical distance between them.

Nor did Harry and Meghan join other royals and dignitaries at a Guildhall reception immediately after the service. Instead the couple were seen returning to Frogmore Cottage, their Windsor home.

This was a service of deputies, Charles deputising for his mother, the archbishop of York called upon to deliver the sermon in place of the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, indisposed through Covid. The Duke of York, also due to be present, was also absent after testing positive. Shortly after the service it was announced that the Queen would not attend the Epsom Derby on Saturday. Princess Anne is expected to go in her place.

Cottrell had earlier described his last-minute gig as “slightly terrifying”. He would have hastily redrafted after the announcement on the eve of the service that the Queen would miss it, having experienced “some discomfort” during trooping the colour.

He praised her as an example of “staunch constancy and a steadfast consistency; a faithfulness to God, an obedience to a vocation that is a bedrock of her life”.

Yeomen warders, known as Beefeaters, march at the thanksgiving service.


Drawing on her well-documented love of horse racing, he told the congregation that “her long reign reflects the distance of Aintree more than the sprints of Epsom. Certainly, less dressage than most people imagine.”

He said: “Your Majesty, we’re sorry you’re not with us this morning in person, but you are still in the saddle. And we are all glad that there is still more to come. So, thank you for staying the course.” His words were greeted by smiles and nods from the royals present.

Other attenders included cabinet ministers, the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, former prime ministers, and the first ministers of Scotland and Wales. Key workers, charity volunteers and members of the armed forces were invited in recognition of their contributions to public life.

One of the country’s largest bells, the Great Paul, was rung before the service and after, for the first time on a royal occasion.

After the service, as the congregation filed down the steps of St Paul’s, they passed the spot marking another queen’s absence from her own service. A 78-year-old Queen Victoria was too frail to attend the grand state service for her diamond jubilee inside the building in 1897, so a short second service was conducted on the steps outside while she sat in her carriage.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×