(Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth began the fourth and final day of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Tuesday with a solo appearance at a thanksgiving service in St. Paul's Cathedral ahead of a horse-drawn procession and a wave from Buckingham Palace.
People thronged the streets as the 86-year-old monarch cut a somber figure in church, attending one of the few grand state occasions in her life without her husband of 64 years, after Prince Philip was taken ill with a bladder infection on Monday.
"The Queen will today face one of the crowning moments of her reign without the presence by her side of the man who for more than six decades has been her unfailing support," said the Times newspaper.
The 90-year-old royal consort will be kept under observation for a few days in a move the palace said was "precautionary", but takes some of the gloss of what is widely seen as a triumphant jubilee that has cemented the queen's popularity.
Millions have attended street parties and festivities, watched a spectacular 1,000-vessel pageant on the River Thames in London on Sunday and a concert in front of Buckingham Palace on Monday, all held in honor of Elizabeth II, the only British monarch other than Queen Victoria to have reigned for 60 years.
In a rare move, the queen, who usually only appears on TV screens for a short message on Christmas Day, will deliver a special broadcast be aired at 1700 GMT to thank the nation.
Crowds began massing in huge numbers on the wide Mall avenue towards Buckingham Palace, turning the famous road into a sea of red, white and blue, for the jubilee finale when the royal family will appear on the balcony, with a fly-past by modern and former Royal Air Force aircraft.
"Some may think this is all a bit frivolous, but it's all about spreading the love," said Aba Shanti, 41, who was wearing a red, white and blue "Union Jack" flag dress.
READ MORE: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/05/us-britain-queen-idUSBRE85101220120605
3 comments:
Where is Britains most beautiful export in every way,Gerard Butler?Did he attend the queens Jubilee?If so why don't they publish a photo.The Americans just love Gerard Butler.27
God bless England and all its people.Long may they reign.Good people.
Gerard is always up for a great party too
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