With fanfares, pageantry and the ceremonial precision at which Britain excels, Queen Elizabeth II’s seven decades as monarch were celebrated in her absence on Friday at a religious service that saw a rare, carefully choreographed appearance for Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, alongside other members of the royal family.

After three appearances on Thursday at the start of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Queen Elizabeth did not feel well enough to attend a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, an event that united the elite of the British establishment in paying tribute to the longest-reigning sovereign in the country’s history.

Britain’s embattled Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, read from the New Testament at the service. And although the jubilee celebrations were a brief respite for him from political pressures, he was reminded of them upon his arrival at St Paul’s when some bystanders booed him as he entered.

Speculation is growing that the Prime Minister, who was fined by the police for attending a party at Downing Street that violated pandemic lockdown rules, will face a no-confidence vote in the coming weeks.

Prince Harry and Meghan, however, were cheered when they arrived. Their entrance was carefully managed to ensure that it came before that of Harry’s father, Prince Charles, and of his brother, Prince William, who were then seated some distance away and at the front of the cathedral.

Prince Harry gave up his royal duties in 2020, when he and Meghan left the country for Southern California.

Yet despite being relegated to the second tier of royalty in the seating plan on Friday, Harry and Meghan were allowed to proceed down the aisle of the cathedral, prompting many necks to crane among the specially invited congregation of about 400 people.

New York Times News Service