Queen’s platinum jubilee 2022: Charles, William and Harry attend St Paul’s service as the Queen rests – live

The Archbishop of York has thanked the Queen for “staying the course”.

Stephen Cottrell said he assumed she was watching the service on television and said he was sorry she couldn’t attend.

In his sermon, he said:

Now we all know that the Queen likes horse racing. And, Your Majesty, I’m rather assuming perhaps you’re watching this on the television.

I don’t have any great tips for the Derby tomorrow, but since the scriptures describe life as a race set before us, let me observe that your long reign reflects the distance of Aintree rather than the sprint of Epsom, certainly less dressage than most people imagine.

But with endurance through times of change and challenge, joy and sorrow, you continue to offer yourself in the service of our country, and the Commonwealth.

Your Majesty, we are sorry that you’re not here with us this morning, but we are so glad that you are still in the saddle. And we are glad that there is still more to come.

So thank you for staying the course. Thank you for continuing to be faithful to the pledges you made 70 years ago.

Thank you for showing us how service and faithfulness matter.

He said that everyone could learn from the Queen’s long service.

Boris Johnson has given a reading from the New Testament.

He read Philippians 4:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

More than 400 people, including key workers, charity volunteers and members of the armed forces are at the cathedral, in recognition of their contribution to public life.

After the service, the royal family is scheduled to attend a Guildhall reception hosted by the Lord Mayor at 12.25pm.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall have now arrived at St Paul’s. He is officially representing the Queen at the service after she had to pull out last night.

The 96-year-old monarch is not attending following a last-minute decision announced by Buckingham Palace at 7.30pm yesterday after she experienced “discomfort” during trooping the colour events earlier in the day.

Prince William and Kate were just ahead of Charles and Camilla. They were seen chatting with the Archbishop of York who will deliver the sermon during the service, as the Archbishop of Canterbury had to pull out due to contracting Covid-19.

Both couples were greeted with loud cheers and waved to the public as they walked up the steps to the cathedral.

Earlier, a member of the Royal Air Force in the military guard of honour lining the steps to St Paul’s collapsed, but was able to get to his feet and was helped away.

Then, a second member of the military personnel also collapsed, but was also able to get to his feet and was helped away on foot, despite a stretcher being brought out.

Members of the royal family have begun to arrive at St Paul’s, hailed by the ringing of the cathedral bells.

The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall and her husband, Mike, were greeted by the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of York.

A huge cheer went up when Prince Harry and Meghan arrived. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have seats in the second row of the congregation, with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their husbands, and Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of Princess Margaret, and her family.

Some members of the crowd booed as the prime minister, Boris Johnson, and his wife, Carrie, got out of their car and walked up the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral for the Thanksgiving service, although there were also cheers from some onlookers.

They have now taken their seats in the cathedral.

The guests are slowly taking their seats. Among those present are a number of former prime ministers. Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May are all in attendance.

Cabinet ministers Sajid Javid, Liz Truss and Priti Patel are also there.

Soon after, the Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, arrived with her husband, and the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also arrived.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations in central London, where the Prince of Wales is filling in for the Queen at the St Paul’s service.

Buckingham Palace said the monarch, 96, was missing the service “with great reluctance” having experienced episodic mobility problems throughout the day on Thursday at the start of her jubilee celebrations.

Crowds have gathered outside the cathedral waiting for glimpses of the royal family, though prime minister Boris Johnson was jeered upon his arrival.

The Archbishop of York has said delivering the sermon at the service of thanksgiving is a “slightly terrifying gig”.

The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell has had to step in at the 11th hour after the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, contracted Covid.

Speaking before the service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Cottrell said he was trying to treat it as just “another sermon”.

“Obviously that’s my job, speaking about the Christian faith, preaching sermons,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“Although this is a slightly terrifying gig I’ve been offered at short notice, from my knowledge of the Queen and when I’ve been with her before, indeed when I’ve preached in church when she’s there, the one thing I’m very confident of is she wants to hear about the Christian faith which is what has motivated her and sustained her throughout her life, throughout her reign.”