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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reunited with their family in public for the first time in two years at the Jubilee thanksgiving service – but kept their distance from the Cambridges and the Prince of Wales.
Harry and Meghan arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral for the service minutes before William and Kate, who came without their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall followed but, once seated, both sets of senior royals stayed separate from the Sussexes.
Mix of boos and cheers on PM’s arrival at St Paul’s – follow live updates
The Cambridges wave to the crowds as they arrive at St Paul’s
The Prince of Wales was representing the Queen in her absence
Charles represented the Queen after the 96-year-old was “reluctantly” forced to pull out after experiencing “discomfort” during the first day of celebrations and watched the service at home in Windsor instead.
There were several other royals at the service, including Princess Anne, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and Mike Tindall, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince Michael of Kent.
Left to right: The Duchess and Duke of Cambridge, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince of Wales
Harry and Meghan standing inside the cathedral ahead of the service
Left to right: The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. Back left to right: Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Eugenie
Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall arrive
Boris Johnson reads from the Bible
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie arrived to a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowds, some of whom had camped out overnight to see members of the Royal Family and senior politicians turn out for the Queen.
Mr Johnson read a passage from the Bible, which was followed by a sermon from the Archbishop of York.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was absent after testing positive for coronavirus earlier this week.
PM Boris Johnson reads from the bible
Prince Andrew did not attend either after he too tested positive for COVID. The Duke of York had been told to stay away from most of the Jubilee celebrations but was due to be at the thanksgiving service.
Both Harry and Meghan have not been seen in public together with the Royals since the Sussexes final engagement as working royals – the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020.
Since then, the pair have started a new life in Los Angeles and given a controversial interview to Oprah Winfrey that claimed members of the royal household made remarks about the colour of their son’s skin.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (second right) and Home Secretary Priti Patel (right) join the PM and his wife inside
Harry also claimed his father had stopped taking his calls and that he hadn’t spoken to his brother.
The Platinum Jubilee is also the first time they have been back to the UK together and with their daughter Lilibet – named after the Queen – who is turning one on Saturday.
There has been speculation Her Majesty will take time out from official proceedings to meet her great-granddaughter for the first time.
Zara Tindall with Prince Harry and Meghan after the service
Members of the military collapse on cathedral steps
After the Queen’s Birthday Parade and balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace, a Palace spokesman said the monarch would not be attending the St Paul’s service due to the “journey and activity required”.
Former British leaders, current government ministers and representatives from different faiths were also among the guests, which included 400 key workers, charity volunteers and members of the Armed Forces.
As guests arrived at the event at, at least two members of the military collapsed on the steps of the cathedral and were taken away by the ambulance service.
A member of the military collapses on the cathedral steps
Royal fans wait for the royals outside St Paul’s Cathedral
Read more:
Day-to-day guide to the Jubilee weekend
Best pictures of the Jubilee so far
A reception was held at the Guildhall after the service, which is being attended by most members of the Royal Family and features a new anthem by Master of the Queen’s Music Judith Weir.
On Saturday, the Queen is expected to attend the Epsom Derby before the Party at the Palace concert in the evening.
Big Jubilee Lunches will line the streets of the UK on Sunday lunchtime, before the £15m Jubilee Pageant through the streets of central London.
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