Jubilee - live: Platinum Party at the Palace begins with surprise sketch of the Queen and Paddington

Spectators are lining up outside St Paul’s Cathedral where a thanksgiving service is being held later today, in the hope of catching a glimpse of members of the royal family.

The organisers of today’s service of thanksgiving have shared behind-the-scenes images as they prepare to welcome the royal family to St Paul’s Cathedral.

A team of “highly-skilled” embroiderers volunteered to create and repair the cathedral’s vestments for use at the service.

French president Emmanuel Macron and British ambassador to France Menna Rawlings attended a “reviving the flame” ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen will be watching the service of thanksgiving on TV from Windsor Castle, it has been revealed.

The news comes after Buckingham Palace issued a statement announcing that the monarch would not be attending the service.

It is believed she experienced episodic mobility issues during the daytime events on Thursday.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said the Queen “greatly enjoyed” her birthday parade and flypast in London but “did experience some discomfort”.

The Prince of Wales will officially represent his mother at the service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.

In his March 2021 Budget, Chancellor Rish Sunak announced that £28 million is being set aside to fund the jubilee celebrations.

The National Lottery has also set up a platinum jubilee fund, which is making more than £22 million available to help communities across England celebrate.

The fund is providing grants of up to £50,000 to 70 community projects up and down the UK.

Additionally, Arts Council England has a Create Jubilee Fund which is supporting voluntary and community organisations in England to ensure creative and cultural activities are given centre stage during the bank holiday weekend.

The fund has been issuing grants of up to £10,000.

Samad Javed reports:

Guests have begun to file into St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of this morning’s service.

Many have had their photographs taken outside the Great West Door, where members of the royal family are also due to enter the cathedral for the event.

Public service is at the heart of the event and over 400 recipients of Honours in the New Year or Birthday Honours lists have been invited in recognition of their contribution to public life.

The guests include NHS staff and key workers, teachers, public servants and representatives from the Armed Forces, charities and volunteer groups.

Tributes will be paid to the Queen’s “70 years of faithful and dedicated service” as 2,000 people including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Cabinet ministers, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, first ministers of the devolved governments and former prime ministers fill the historic church.

Public service is the theme at the heart of the religious event, with 400 people who are recipients of honours, including NHS and key workers who were recognised for their work during the pandemic, invited.

The Archbishop of York will deliver the sermon and has described the prospect as a “slightly terrifying gig”.

The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell had to step in at the 11th hour after the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, contracted Covid 19.

He said of the Queen: “I am really sad she is not here because I want to say some personal things to her, thanksgiving for what she has given to our nation, but I am sure she will be watching on the telly.”

Hundreds of people gathered, some wearing Union flag hats and others hanging flags and bunting over the railings on the approach to the cathedral.

Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle has arrived for the service.

The Prime Minister and Keir Starmer are expected to follow shortly, with the royals due to arrive at around 11am.

The Queen has seen 14 Prime Ministers during her lengthy reign, including David Cameron and John Major in the last 30 years.

Tony Blair has arrived this morning, along with his wife Cherie, and Gordon Brown is also in attendance.

Medics are attending a member of the armed forces who has just collapsed on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral.

The man in uniform appears to have fainted in the line up while waiting for dignitaries to arrive.

Three medics spoke to him and he was escorted away from the parade to cheers from the public lined up to watch the event.