Prince Andrew will not be attending the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee service as he has tested positive for Covid-19.
Buckingham Palace said the Duke of York will no longer be going to the Jubilee service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral after his positive test.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “After undertaking a routine test The Duke has tested positive for Covid and with regret will no longer be attending tomorrow’s service.”
It is understood Andrew saw the Queen in the last few days but has been undertaking regular testing and has not seen her since he tested positive.
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Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
He is no longer a member of the working monarchy and has stopped using his HRH titles after Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.
The duke denied the claims and the civil sexual assault case brought against him by Giuffre was settled out of court.
The announcement that Andrew won’t be joining the service, comes just hours after celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee got underway.
The four-day long jubilee celebrations kicked off today, with the Trooping the Colour taking place this morning and the Queen making her first balcony appearance alongside her cousin the Duke of Kent – Colonel of the Scots Guards.
There was a huge turn out for today’s Trooping of the Colour, with Royals including Prince Charles, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge joining the Queen on her balcony, while scores of members of the public lined the streets.
The Sussexes have also flown over with their two young children for the celebrations, but weren’t present on the balcony today as the Queen decided to limit numbers to ‘working Royals’ only.
The Queen could be seen beaming as she watched the special flypast after Trooping the Colour.
Wearing sunglasses, the 96-year-old sovereign looked joyful as she surveyed the patriotic scenes, giving broad smiles as she enjoyed the aircraft display.
Later on this evening, the Queen will lead the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon in a special dual ceremony, with the monarch at Windsor Castle and her grandson William at the Palace.
It will form the focal point of more than 3,500 flaming tributes being set ablaze across the UK and the Commonwealth.
Topics: UK News, Royal Family
Claire Reid