The Queen needs rest after spending nearly 30 mins on her feet on palace balcony
THE Queen enjoyed a well-earned rest and put her feet up to watch her family pay tribute on the telly yesterday.
She spent nearly 30 minutes on her feet in public glare on the first day of her Jubilee party, footage shows.
Hence, the 96-year-old made the “regrettable but sensible” decision to pull out of Friday's thanksgiving service.
She had complained of discomfort caused by her mobility problems after making two balcony appearances.
And after she pulled out of the hour-long service, Buckingham Palace also confirmed Her Majesty would not attend The Derby today.
She is expected to watch the racing on television, with Princess Anne going to the Epsom meeting in her place.
Palace aides are yet to confirm whether the public will see the Queen again during her four-day Platinum Jubilee.
But insiders are hopeful she could cap the extravaganza by appearing one final time on the balcony tomorrow.
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Thousands of proud flag-waving Brits have headed to London while millions hold street parties across the country.
The Queen watched from Windsor Castle yesterday as her family headed into St Paul’s Cathedral with 2,000 VIP guests including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and members of the military.
It is believed she was joined in front of the TV at home by best pal and dresser Angela Kelly — who The Sun revealed last month had moved into an apartment next door inside the Castle.
Sources close to the Queen said her condition could be worsened by any 26-mile car journeys from her private apartments to London.
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One said: “It is a lot easier to manage at Windsor Castle.”
It came after she made two balcony appearances at Buckingham Palace.
Publicly available footage shows the Queen spent 11 minutes and 34 seconds on the balcony with the Duke of Kent to salute returning horseguards.
She returned to the balcony and was greeted by a spontaneous three cheers at 1pm — with the royals delighted at the cheeky antics of Prince Louis during a spectacular RAF flypast culminating with the Red Arrows.
The television footage shows she was standing for nine minutes and 18 seconds before returning inside the palace.
Later that evening she was on her feet for about six minutes at a beacon lighting ceremony at Windsor Castle.
It was clear she was being very careful when putting one foot in front of the other even while on the pristine red carpet laid in her path.
And behind closed doors she would have spent more time walking around.
Palace insiders had said last week it was “highly unlikely” she would attend today’s racing at Epsom.
It is not thought she will make the journey tonight for the Platinum Party at the Palace, headlined by Diana Ross and Queen.
William and Charles are expected at the musical feast which kicks off at 8pm and will be shown on telly.
Instead, it is likely the Queen will watch the show in her honour in the comfort of Windsor Castle.
Prince Andrew, 62, pulled out of yesterday’s service after falling ill with Covid but the palace said the Queen has not tested positive for the virus.
At a reception at London’s Guildhall yesterday, the Duchess of Cambridge was said to have told an attendee the Queen was “fine” but had found the day “very tiring”.
She also told guest Gill Smallwood, from Bolton, that the monarch “had a lovely, lovely time”.
Kate was also said to have commented that Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte also “had a lovely time” at Thursday’s celebrations, during which all three Cambridge children appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
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Ms Smallwood, chief executive of domestic violence charity Fortalice, was made an MBE in the New Year honours and was among those invited to the St Paul’s service and a reception at the Guildhall afterwards.
She said it had been a “real honour” to be at the service and described it as “absolutely beautiful”.
