Queen attends St Paul’s function as Philip remains in hospital

The last day of celebrations in commemoration of the Queen’s diamond jubilee began today with a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

The Queen was joined at the service by other members of the Royal Family including the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prime Minister David Cameron, who gave a reading from the New Testament. Prince Philip was notably absent from the service, as he continues to recover from a bladder infection in hospital.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall took to the Queen’s side in place of her husband in the front row at the Cathedral, to hear a touching sermon delivered by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. In his tribute, Williams shared stories of the private meetings he had partaken with the Queen, describing her as funny and down-to-earth.

He said: “I found in the Queen someone who can be friendly, who can be informal, who can be extremely funny in private…and who, while retaining her dignity always, doesn’t stand on her dignity in a conversation.”

The service was attended by 2000 guests, and was followed by a ceremonial carriage procession in London, as well as a Royal Air Force flypast, viewed on the Buckingham Palace’s balcony by The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The Queen’s jubilee weekend has been marked nationally with a series of spectacular events, including the River Thames pageant, which over a million people attended.

Abbie Cavendish