Queen to miss friday’s church service after ‘discomfort’ during platinum jubilee

EXPLORE MORE Queen Elizabeth II will miss a prescheduled royal engagement Friday after feeling “discomfort” during Thursday’s monumental Platinum Jubilee celebration. “The Queen greatly

enjoyed today’s Birthday Parade and Flypast but did experience some discomfort,” a spokesperson for the royal family said in a statement. “Taking into account the journey and activity

required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend.” The statement

concluded, “The Queen is looking forward to participating in tonight’s Beacon lighting event at Windsor Castle and would like to thank all those who made today such a memorable occasion.”

Despite her malaise, Her Majesty, 96, appeared in good spirits Thursday as she waved to the crowd outside of Buckingham Palace to honor her 70 years on the British throne. She was joined by

several members of the royal family, including Kate Middleton, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie — who all coordinated with Her Royal Highness in blue — for the monarch’s annual

birthday celebration, Trooping the Colour. Prince William and his children with Middleton, Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, were also present — with the youngest

stealing the show due to his adorable antics. He was photographed hilariously reacting to the loud airplanes flying overhead with his mouth open and his eyes squeezed shut, and at one

point, appeared to scream with his hands over both ears. The Queen did not appear perturbed by the youngster’s behavior, however, so her recent health issues could be to blame for her

pending absence at Friday’s event. In May, Queen Elizabeth II cancelled an appearance at the State Opening of Parliament due to “episodic mobility issues” she was experiencing at the time.

Get the latest updates on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with The Post’s live coverage She also contracted COVID-19 in February, and although Prince Charles shared that his mother was doing

“better” weeks after her diagnosis, mobility issues in the elderly can be a side effect of the virus. According to findings published in The Journal of the American Medical Association,

middle-aged and elderly patients who have had even a mild case of COVID-19 can experience “worsened mobility and functioning outcomes following infection.” In April, Queen Elizabeth II

shared that the coronavirus had left her feeling “very tired.” The monarch’s late husband, Prince Philip, died at the age of 99 in April 2021.