Diamond Jubilee: Queen praised for dedication by Archbishop of Canterbury

• Message of goodwill delivered to hospitalised Duke of Edinburgh by Archbishop

• Queen to deliver special broadcast message to UK and Commonwealth this evening

Dr Rowan Williams paid tribute to the Queen’s selfless devotion to others and also had words of support for the Duke of Edinburgh, admitted to hospital yesterday with a bladder infection.

His absence is likely to be greatly felt by the Queen and her family during the series of celebrations planned for today to mark the end of the Diamond Jubilee weekend.

Dr Williams told the congregation of leading figures from the UK and overseas that “our prayers and thoughts are very much with him this morning”.

Dr Williams told those gathered, who included the Prime Minister David Cameron and the Prince of Wales: “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.”

Philip’s absence has seen changes made to today’s events, with the Queen travelling not alone, but with one her ladies in waiting, Diana Marion, The Lady Farnham.

During the service she did not sit by herself at the head of the congregation, but was joined by the Prince of Wales, who sat on her right.

Dr Williams highlighted how the Queen’s commitment to others had brought her happiness: “But we are marking today the anniversary of one historic and very public act of dedication - a dedication that has endured faithfully, calmly and generously through most of the adult lives of most of us here.

“We are marking six decades of living proof that public service is possible and that it is a place where happiness can be found.”

Many members of the Royal family attended the service including the Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

It was announced today that the Queen will give a message of thanks for this weekend’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in a special address to be broadcast this evening.

The address, lasting just over two minutes, was recorded in the Presence Room in Buckingham Palace yesterday before the Jubilee Concert.

For the final day of the Diamond Jubilee weekend the Queen wore an Angela Kelly outfit of fine silk tulle, embroidered with tiny mint green star-shaped flowers embellished with silver thread.

It featured a mint green chiffon drape, scattered with Swarovski crystals on the shoulders.

The crown of the hat was covered in the same tulle and was also draped in mint green chiffon and Swarovski crystals.