Jgoggles glued to his eyes, Jonathan watches the steps of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London. “I see the Archbishop on the steps, the guests are about to arrive. Very excited about the Platinum Jubilee weekend, the man traveled from Wales with his wife and two children. After the military parade on Thursday, it is in front of the cathedral, in the heart of the City of London, that the crowd gathers this Friday, June 3. The royal family is expected there for Thanksgiving mass. Boos and a few whistles rise in the distance. Jonathan picks up his binoculars. “Ah, Boris Johnson has arrived! »
Eleven o’clock. The bells of the cathedral begin a long hum. The procession of Prince William and Kate, then that of Prince Charles and Camilla are entitled to a general acclamation. The reception is more reserved for Harry and Meghan, who are making their first public appearance alongside the royal family since leaving the country. “I am happy to see them coming home,” slips a lady wrapped in a British flag, immediately taken up by her neighbor: “No, they have done too much harm to the queen, I will not forgive them. »
© MATT DUNHAM / POOL / AFP
“She’s not young anymore”
The queen is the great absentee from this second day of the celebrations of her 70 years of reign. The palace had warned the evening before that Elizabeth II, 96, could not finally go to mass, due to “some discomfort” felt during the parade. Always one eye in his binoculars, Jonathan takes the bad news with philosophy. “If she doesn’t feel like doing it, that’s how it is, she has to take care of herself. “It’s a shame, but she’s not very young anymore,” puts Sue into perspective, hidden behind a mask bearing the image of her sovereign. Worried, but not surprised, Wendy is reassured with the images of the previous evening: “We saw her in Windsor turning on the beacons and she seemed to be fine. »
John, he is “very worried” about the state of health of Elizabeth II. “She’s been through a lot lately: Harry and Meghan, Prince Andrew, the death of her husband Prince Philip… And yet, she’s still here, and she’s doing everything she can. Which model ! A few meters further, another fan of Her Majesty, a paper crown on her head, nods. “You know, he’s a legend now. And legends never die. »
