Diamond Jubilee 2012: Queen thankful for high point of Elizabethan era

• Queen and family members make appearance on palace balcony to one million well-wishers

• Monarch “touched” by reaction from public during Diamond Jubilee celebrations

Crowded into the Mall and under a canopy of fluttering Union flags, the British public marked the finale of the Diamond Jubilee with a rousing rendition of God Save The Queen.

On the balcony of Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth II stood motionless as the people she had sworn to serve 60 years ago marked their continued admiration, while she waited stoically for the present to pass into another little piece of history.

The noise from below was soon replaced by a din from above as, at last, the British weather was clement enough for a military fly-past and a Lancaster bomber and Spitfires tore across the sky.

The Red Arrows followed soon after, colouring the heavens red, white and blue. Later, in a recorded message, the Queen said the events of the past few days had “touched me deeply” and that she would “continue to treasure and draw inspiration from the countless kindnesses” shown to her.

The final day of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations had a weight and poignancy missing from the horse-racing, pageant, picnic and pop concert that proceeded it, a tone amplified by the absence of Prince Philip, who was said to be “bitterly disappointed” to have to watch his wife on a television by his bed at the King Edward VII hospital, near Paddington.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who will be 91 on Sunday, is being treated for a bladder infection. While the Queen could yet become the first British monarch to enjoy a Platinum Jubilee marking a 70-year reign – the Queen Mother lived to 101 – no one wished the final day of the Diamond Jubilee to pass as a mere rehearsal.

The day began with a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, to which the establishment, representative members of the Commonwealth and assorted religious figures were invited, including First Minister Alex Salmond and Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

As the Queen had been due to arrive with the duke, and her courtiers did not wish her to travel alone, she was accompanied in the Bentley state limousine by a lady-in-waiting, Diana Marion, The Lady Farnham.

THE Queen arrived at 10:30am to a chorus of God Save The Queen and stepped out in an outfit designed by Angela Kelly, the royal dresser, of fine silk tulle, embroidered with tiny mint-green, star-shaped flowers embellished with silver thread.

Among the spectators at the cathedral were four women from Jedburgh, who displayed a large Union flag.

“We’ve been saving for three years to come here,” said Marion Kingswood, 69. “Apart from the royal wedding, there’s been nothing like it. Sixty years is such an achievement.”

Barry Dandy, 71, and his wife had travelled a great deal further, from Sydney, Australia. “They showed a preview of the River Pageant on Australian television and my wife said, ‘I’d love to be there’,” Mr Dandy said. “It’s been great to take part in the celebrations.”

Inside St Paul’s Cathedral, the scene of so many special moments in the Queen’s long reign, the choir sang Te Deum in G by Ralph Vaughan Williams as she walked up the aisle. Again, in dispensation to her husband’s absence, the Queen was seated beside Prince Charles, instead of elevated on the altar on her own.

Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, wished to pay particular notice to the Queen’s 60 years of service to her country and also had words of support for the Duke of Edinburgh.

He said: “I don’t think it’s at all fanciful to say that, in all her public engagements, our Queen has shown a quality of joy in the happiness of others; she has responded with just the generosity St Paul speaks of in showing honour to countless local communities and individuals of every background and class and race.

“She has made her ‘public’ happy and all the signs are that she is herself happy, fulfilled and at home in these encounters.

“The same, of course, can manifestly be said of Prince Philip, and our prayers and thoughts are very much with him this morning.

“To declare a lifelong dedication is to take a huge risk, to embark on a costly venture. But it is also to respond to the promise of a vision that brings joy,” said Dr Williams.

The Diamond Choir, made up of children from across Britain sang Call of Wisdom by British composer Will Todd, while the hymns included All People That on Earth Do Dwell and Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, which is better known as the Welsh rugby anthem, Cwm Rhondda (Bread of Heaven).

Prime Minister David Cameron, who was joined by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband, the leader of the Opposition, gave a reading from the New Testament, Romans 12. 1-18: “Let love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.”

Later in a television interview, Mr Cameron said he hoped the jubilee celebrations would give the UK economy the “bounce” it needed.

He said street parties across the UK showed the nation pulling together, while the Olympics would be a “giant advertisement” for the country across the globe.

PRESIDENT Barack Obama paid tribute, calling the Queen “a steadfast ally, loyal friend and tireless leader”. Throughout her “60 extraordinary years” she had been “a loyal witness” to the unique alliance between the United States and the UK “and the chief source of its resilience”.

Before departing, the Dean of St Paul’s, the Rev David Ison, guided the Queen to a carving, which read: “Here Queen Victoria returned thanks to Almighty God for the 60th anniversary of her accession.” It was dated 22 June, 1897.

After the service, the Queen travelled to a reception at Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, while the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry attended a similar event at the Guildhall.

Then the royal parties moved on to Westminster Hall for a lunch hosted by the City of London Livery companies.

At 2:18 pm, the Queen took her seat in the 1902 state landau. She had reportedly been offered the use of the Australian state coach, which is not only covered but is the only one in the royal collection with central heating, but rejected the idea. She was joined by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

THE carriage procession through Whitehall will remain a highlight of the jubilee weekend, with crowds gathered 30-deep, straining to catch a glimpse of the Queen. The Sovereign’s Escort was provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in polished breastplate and plumed helmets, while the route along Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and along the Mall to Buckingham Palace was lined by more than 1,000 servicemen and women.

In a mark of respect, Prince William and Prince Harry took off their black top hats as their carriage passed the Cenotaph.

A deafening 60-gun salute was fired by the King’s Troop in Horse Guards Parade.

As the Queen rested for a few minutes inside Buckingham Palace the final stage of the Diamond Jubilee was being set.

A long line of police officers began to walk slowly up the Mall towards the Palace, leading almost 1.5 million people, many dressed in red, white and blue, flying Union flags and singing Land of Hope and Glory.

At 3:26pm, the Queen stepped out on to the balcony, where 67 years previously she had stood beside Winston Churchill and her father, King George VI, on VE day.

She was soon joined by Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Below in the palace forecourt, the Queen’s Guard made a “feu de joie” – “a fire of joy” celebratory cascade of rifle fire, interspersed with the National Anthem played by the Band of the Irish Guards.

The few raindrops that fell were not enough to spoil the flypast of Spitfires, a Lancaster bomber and the Red Arrows. For a few seconds the grey, leaden skies were painted red, white and blue, the smoke trails lingered a little, began to fade and then were gone.

• Additional reporting by Shân Ross.