Prince Andrew Willn’t Be Attending Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
By TOI Desk Report June 3, 2022 Update on : June 3, 2022
During Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, Prince Andrew is unlikely to be spotted.
After acquiring COVID-19 for what appears to be the first time, Prince Andrew will skip today’s Service of Thanksgiving in London in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Buckingham Palace stated on Thursday that the Duke of York tested positive for the virus during a routine blood test and will thus be unable to attend the historic event at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.
The 62-year-old is said to have met the Queen in person at Windsor in recent days and has not been in her actual presence since learning he had COVID-19. Prince Andrew was also absent from yesterday’s Trooping the Color, which marked Her Majesty’s 70-year reign and official birthday with a lavish military procession at Buckingham Palace.
His absence from the event is only one of several ramifications of his high-profile 2021 sex abuse case, in which he was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexually assaulting her while she was a teenager.
The announcement of Prince Andrew’s positive COVID-19 status came only days after the Queen said she will not be joining the Jubilee thanksgiving ceremony.
The decision was reached with difficulty and on account of the travel and activity required by the 96-year-participation old’s in the event, Palace officials said on Thursday. Despite looking in good spirits on the Trooping the Colour balcony, the Queen is said to have been experiencing discomfort throughout the high-energy procession.
Prince Charles, the Queen’s eldest son, will formally represent the adored queen at today’s funeral. At the cathedral, he will be accompanied by the whole Royal Family, featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and also 400 invited guests. Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are also anticipated to attend. Read More:
Prince Andrew settles sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre
The Lord Mayor will host a Guildhall reception following the ceremony, which begins at 11.30 a.m. According to reports, Harry and Meghan will attend the Platinum Jubilee ceremony without baby Lilibet, who is too young for such a formal affair.