1700 A great view of the flypast - and the picture that will end our live coverage of today’s events. Please keep an eye on thetimes.co.uk for all the latest news, analysis and commentary. Thankyou for reading.
1655 Here’s what the royal party would have seen from Buckingham Palace’s balcony. No wonder the Queen was moved.
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1623 Watching the flypast.
1613 The State Landau passes the Houses of Parliament in this picture from Times photographer Paul Rogers.
1611 In the only incident in a perfectly-executed parade, a guardsman lost his mount in The Mall. Here’s the horse making its bid for home.
1559 The Duke of Edinburgh was visited in hospital by not only Prince Edward but Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and their children, Louise and James. Leaving in a separate vehicle, the Countess told reporters that Prince Philip was “in good spirits, he’s on good form”.
1558 This was only the second time that a feu de joie has been fired in the Queen’s 60-year reign. The first followed her Birthday Parade in 2006, in celebration of her 80th birthday
1543 The younger royals have obviously enjoyed the weekend’s events. Here are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge riding back to Buckingham Palace earlier.
1542 Prince Edward has just emerged from the hospital where his father is being treated. “He’s been watching it all on television,” the prince tells reporters. “He’s feeling a lot better, thank you very much - just a good rest is probably required.” Asked how the Queen was faring without her consort, he said: “She’s bearing up but she’s missing him, obviously.”
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Below: Police guard the entrance to the Edward VII hospital, a few blocks from Harley Street.
1537 The Queen waves, smiles and disappears back into Buckingham Palace. She must be desperate for a cup of tea by now.
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1535 The Irish Guards remove their bearskins to give the Queen three cheers. Major General George Norton, General Officer Commanding London District, leads the Guards, and the crowd follows.
1533 And now the feu de joie. The rifle shots are interspersed with verses of the National Anthem, the crowd singing as the Band of the Irish Guards plays.
1529 The flypast begins, led by a Dakota from the Royal Air Force Memorial Flight at Coningsby. It’s being flown by Squadron Leader Jamie Watson.
Just behind is a Lancaster, flanked by four Spitfires and a Hurricane. And now, the Red Arrows.
1528 The Queen emerges on to the balcony to a deafening cheer from the thousands packing The Mall. It’s a sea of red, white and blue flags.
On the balcony also are Prince Harry, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who were the ones in centre stage the last time they walked through those doors.
Behind the royal party, an RAF officer checks his watch. Below the balcony, the Irish Guards are ready to fire the feu de joie rifle salute.
1516 Prince Edward has arrived at the King Edward VII Hospital to visit his father. Asked if there was any news on his condition, he replies: “That’s what we’re going to find out.”
The Queen is not expected to visit her husband today.
1510 Suggs from Madness, who stole the show last night with their rendition of Our House (“in the middle of one’s street”), has admitted that he suffered from a “touch of vertigiousness” playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace.
“The only time I had a view like that was when I lived on the eighth floor of a council house,” he tells Sky News before a shameless plug for the band’s forthcoming tour.
1505 Nice tweet from James Chapman of the Daily Mail:
Banners in the Mall crowd reading ‘Elizabeth the Great’, which has a certain ring to it.
1503 A taste of the atmosphere from our photographer Richard Pohle:
1458 The tide of humanity coming down The Mall is truly impressive - Her Majesty must be relieved that they’re all so friendly. The only obstacle in their path is the stage from last night’s concert.
Sky News are reporting that the Red Arrows have taken off from their base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire so it sounds as though the flypast is still on.
1450 The crowds are surging on to The Mall, trying to get the best position before the flypast. A row of police officers are holding them back, slowing down the advance.
1448 While the Queen was at the Mansion House, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were attending a separate reception at the Guildhall and it sounds as if they spent half their time fielding invitations for overseas tours.
Sheikh Rehana, sister of Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, said that she gave the couple an invitation to visit the country, telling them to come “any time”.
“The Duchess said she would very much like to come to Bangladesh,” she said. “We were telling her about everything she could see there. We gave them an invitation on behalf of the Prime Minister. I hope they might come.
“I said ’Come any time’. She said ’I’ll put it down in my diary’ and that she has always wanted to come and visit. I think she is attracted by the colours and culture.”
Another invitation came from John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, who said that the Duke had promised to bring his wife to the country, adding: “I don’t think she has been before”.
“It was magnificent to see them again,” he said. “Obviously the wedding was a wonderful event. It was great to bring the best wishes of the people of New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, William was overheard telling guests how one performer in particular caught everyone’s attention at last night’s concert . He said that he saw “men passing binoculars around” when Grace Jones took to the stage.
1441 President Obama has sent the Queen a very warm video message to congratulate her on her Diamond Jubilee.
1438 One of the guardsmen appears to have lost his mount in The Mall - his comrades had to move quickly to recapture it.
1435 So how’s it looking for the flypast? The Ministry of Defence says it’s keeping a close eye on the weather but it’s still due to take place.
We are expecting some heavy rain in the capital at about 4pm but the flypast is at 3.30 so it’s a bit close for comfort.
“It still looks as if there will be some light rain in the air across Central London by 3.30pm but it’s a very close call as to whether it will have an effect on the flypast,” Brendan Jones, a forecaster at Meteogroup, said.
“Given that the aircraft require good visibility, a relatively high cloud base and minimal rain, there are lots of potential constraints. However, current thoughts are that they may well just get away with it as visibility and cloud bases should not lower below safe thresholds until an hour or so later when heavier rain moves in.”
1430 The procession pulls into Buckingham Palace as the band strikes up with a chorus of the National Anthem, followed by huge cheers from the crowds behind the security barricades. The Queen will enter the Palace through the State Entrance. The Crown Equerry, Colonel Toby Browne, greets the carriage before the Queen is presented with a bouquet of flowers.
1424 The procession clips along under Admiralty Arch and into The Mall, accompanied by a troop of Horse Guards. Hard to think this was so packed last night for the Jubilee Concert. There is some rain, but probably not enough to threaten the flypast which is due in about an hour’s time.
The Duke of Edinburgh is in King Edward VII Hospital near Regent’s Park, so he might be too far away to hear the salute. The royal biographer, Hugo Vickers, reckons he’ll be watching it on television anyway.
1422 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are following in another landau. The two princes appear to be enjoying themselves immensely.
The King’s Troop, the Royal Horse Artillery, fire off a thunderous six-gun salute from Horseguards Parade.
1420 The rain is holding off, almost. The Queen looks a bit happier than she did on Sunday afternoon on that barge on the Thames, although she stuck with it. She is waving to the crowds as she passes down Whitehall past the Cenotaph. She must be aware that a long and tiring - if rewarding - weekend of celebrations is almost over.
1417 The Queen has left Westminster Hall and is settling down into the 1902 State Landau with the Prince of Wales, resplendent in a top hat, and the Duchess of Cornwall.
They’re off - down Whitehall and around the Admiralty Arch and The Mall to Buckingham Palace. For the thousands lining the route, this is today’s main event.
1410 There’s a clear front-runner for the strangest royal hat: take a look at this one adorning Zara Philips at this morning’s thanksgiving service:
1401 It’s not just the BBC that’s come under fire for its coverage of Sunday’s river pageant. John Stewart of the Daily Show is not too impressed by CNN’s version.
1316 What’s on the menu at Westminster? First off, marinated Uist Island salmon with Lyme Bay crab, then saddle of Welsh Cambrian Mountain lamb with braised shoulder of lamb, grilled Isle of Wight asparagus, Jersey Royal potatoes and an aptly named Jubilee sauce.
To finish off, the “symphony of dessert” is chocolate delice, bread and butter pudding and berry compote with Sandringham apple sauce.
A Ceylon tea will also be served made from a bush planted by the Duke of Edinburgh during a state visit to Sri Lanka in 1954 in the Pedro Tea Plantation in Nuwara Eliya.
1303 The State Trumpeters play a fanfare as the Queen is led by Black Rod into the magnificent Westminster Hall, the oldest surviving part of the Palace of Westminster.
The Queen is welcomed by Thomas Sheldon, the Master Mercer who is hosting her table. Then John Bercow, Commons Speaker, is announced to say grace. It sounds almost like he is booed - perhaps because of his wife’s tweet yesterday about “flag-waving loons”.
1252 Jack Malvern reports from the route of this afternoon’s state procession:
A chant has risen up on The Mall: “We want the socks.” The crowd has spotted that one of the policemen is sporting Union Jack socks and are demanding a better view. The constable eventually obliges, teasing up his trouser legs to cries of “higher” and whoops of delight.
1248 The Queen arrives at the Palace of Westminster for the Diamond Jubilee lunch hosted by the Livery. There will be some 700 guests representing the various guild companies from grocers to gunmakers, fruiterers to fishmongers.
1233 Preceeded by police motorcyclists and travelling at a sedate pace, the Queen’s Bentley passes No 1 Poultry as it heads through the City, passing St Paul’s again and heading down Ludgate Hill. On any other Tuesday these streets would be crammed with people and traffic.
1228 The Queen is preparing to leave the Mansion House. She is accompanied by Alderman David Wootton, the Lord Mayor of London. Her Bentley waits, parked up in the street alongside the church of St Stephen’s Walbrook.
1212 Meanwhile the crowds gather for the carrigage procession, entertained by the band of the Scots Guards, who have paraded down The Mall and are now marching down Whitehall.
The Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will leave Mansion House for Westminster Hall in about 15 minutes.
1205 Here’s a nice picture of the Cambridges...
And the Queen leaving St Paul’s:
1133 The bells ring out over St Paul’s and, after saying goodbye to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Queen walks out of the West Door. The crowd outside cheers noisily, competing with the celebratory peals of bells. The Queen’s Bentley moves in to pick her up for the short (and very slow) drive to the Mansion House, for a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor. She is expected to remain there for about an hour before lunch at Westminster Hall.
1130 To wrap up, the Queen is led by the Chapter, the Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury to the West Door of the cathedral. The Lord Mayor, bearing the Pearl Sword, precedes Her Majesty. In the absence of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales follows close behind.
The organist Simon Johnson plays Orb and Sceptre, by William Walton.
1126 The congregation rises for the National Anthem, introduced by a trumpet fanfare.
1121 And now the stirring William Williams hymn ‘Guide me, O though great Redeemer’, sung to the tune Cwm Rhondda, followed by the blessing, from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
1120 And the Diamond Choir sings a beautiful anthem by Michael Hampel and Will Todd before the Collect, led by the Right Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London.
Ruth Gledhill, whose son Arthur is in the choir, tweets: “Congratulations all boys and girls #diamondchoir at St Paul’s that was so beautiful.”
She deserves to be proud.
1118 Times reporter Jack Malvern is out and about on The Mall and has found a man with a rather amazing hat.
1112 The Litany comes to an end: “God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest, to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth and all humankind, peace and concord; and to us his servants, life everlasting.”
The hymn is Laudate Dominum.
1108 We break away for a fashion update: the Duchess of Cambridge is wearing a “nude-coloured” dress by Alexander McQueen and a hat by Jane Taylor.
1106 The Litany of Prayer and Thanksgiving is started off by Jemma Samuel, the St John’s Ambulance cadet of the year, who mixes up her words but recovers quickly with a smile.
1101 Dr Williams adds: “This year has already seen a variety of Jubilee creations and projects. But its most lasting memorial would be the rebirth of an energetic, generous spirit of dedication to the common good and the public service, the rebirth of a recognition that we live less than human lives if we think just of our own individual good.”
The Archbishop has pitched that sermon perfectly. Now an anthem from Sir Charles Wood.
1059 Here’s an extract from today’s sermon:
“Dedication to the service of a community certainly involves that biblical sense of an absolute purge of selfish goals, but it is also the opening of a door into shared riches.
“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.”
1052 Now the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, gives the sermon. He talks about the sudden and devastating bereavement suffered by the young Princess Elizabeth 60 years ago: and how she immediately dedicated herself to the service of her country. That dedication, he says, has been absolute.
Dr Williams also pays tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh - “Our prayers and thoughts are very much with him this morning”
1048 The Prime Minister gives the New Testament reading: Romans 12, verses 1-18. “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour.”
1044 There follows an Old Testament reading from the Right Reverend Michael Colclough: Proverbs 8,1, 6-12, beginning “Does not wisdom call and does not understanding raise her voice?”
The psalm is from Psalm 96. verses 7-13.
1038 The Very Rev David Ison, Dean of St Paul’s, gives the bidding. “We come as people of faith to pray for Her Majesty the Queen and all members of the Royal Family,” he says. “We also come to give thanks for Her Majesty’s loyal service and commitment, lived through a deep sense of vocation in Christ to the glory of almighty God..”
The congregation recites the Lord’s Prayer before the day’s first hymn: All People That On Earth Do Dwell.
1032 The Queen arrives at St Paul’s and makes her way through the cathedral to the glrous sound of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Te Deum.
She is wearing an outfit of fine silk tulle, embroidered with tiny mint green star-shaped flowers embellished with silver thread. It features a mint green chiffon drape, scattered with Swarovski crystals on the shoulders. Yhe crown of the hat is covered in the same tulle and is also draped in mint green chiffon and Swarovski crystals.
1021 The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (looking very elegant) arrive at St Paul’s, followed by Princes William and Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge. They are received by, among others, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London.
The Queen is now on her way.
1011 Here’s the scene outside St Paul’s. The Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on their way to the cathedral now, soaking up the cheers of the crowds in Central London.
1000 St Paul’s is filling up: we’ve had Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, David and Samantha Cameron (wearing a hat), Nick Clegg and his wife, Miriam, and the Speaker, John Bercow with his better half. Among the minor royals, Autumn Phillips, wife of Peter, is in blue with a blue and red hat.
As I mentioned earlier, our own Ruth Gledhill is there too, but she’s got eyes for only one person: her son Arthur is in the Diamond Choir. She is threatening to get tearful.
0955 The BBC has come under a lot of flak for its coverage of the Thames pageant, including from Times readers. As a victim of Sunday’s coverage, I enjoyed the “Sun Says” take on it.
And the Beeb should brace for another mauling. We understand that ITV News will be deploying news anchor Mark Austin - hero of its Royal Wedding coverage last year - among the crowds on The Mall.
0947 Here’s something you don’t see every day. The cruise company Cunard sailed its three ships into port together for the first time today to mark the Diamond Jubilee.
Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth sailed in single file into Southampton soon after dawn, with a fire tug and a flotilla of small boats welcoming them in.
As Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria took a bow-to-bow position close to City Terminal, Queen Mary 2 passed each ship in turn, creating a three-bow formation. Flag-waving crew lined the foredecks, and the ships’ whistles sounded in salute to Her Majesty.
0937 Our religion correspondent, Ruth Gledhill, is tweeting from St Paul’s, where she has taken her place with the other “scribes” high up in the press gallery.
0925 More from St Paul’s: the Press Association reports that small group of protesters from anti-monarchist group Republic arrived outside the cathedral, holding placards reading “9,500 Nurses or 1 Queen?” and “Republic Now!”.
Loyal royalists in the crowd greeted them with a noisy chant of “God Save The Queen”.
0914 There are hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside St Paul’s Cathedral before today’s service of thanksgiving, where Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will give the sermon.
Among them was Rachael Andrews, 42, from Southend, Essex, who woke up at 3.30am with her son and two daughters to travel to the event.
She said: “My children wanted to watch it on television but I told them the atmosphere would be so different if we were there. This will be something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”
Barry Dandy, 71, arrived in London from Sydney, Australia, with his wife four days ago. Mr Dandy, originally from Southport, Merseyside, said: “They showed a preview of the River Pageant on Australian television and my wife said ’I’d love to be there’. It’s been great to take part in the celebration.”
Don’t mention the rain.
0904 The Queen was to have travelled alongside her consort in today’s state procession but will now be joined by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in the 1902 State Landau. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will be in another carriage behind them - so there will be one less carriage than had been planned.
0843 A bit of new news: the Queen is to give a message of thanks for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in a televised address to be broadcast this evening.
The broadcast, lasting just over two minutes, was recorded in the Presence Room in Buckingham Palace yesterday before the jubilee concert.
It will be transmitted on television and radio at 6pm today in the UK and across the Commonwealth, and will also be available on the Royal Channel on YouTube.
Apart from her regular Christmas Day slot, it’s rare that the Queen such broadcasts - the last was in 1997 after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, transmitted from the balcony at Buckingham Palace where the crowds had gathered to pay their respects.
She also addressed the nation on the Gulf War in February 1991.
0830 Good morning and welcome to rolling coverage from the fourth and final day of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which will conclude with a service at St Paul’s, lunch at Westminster Hall and a state procession back to Buckingham Palace where the Queen will watch an RAF flypast from Britain’s most famous balcony.
The Queen will be without her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was admitted to hospital yesterday suffering from a bladder infection. Buckingham Palace said that the Duke, who turns 91 on Sunday, was disappointed to miss last night’s jubilee concert and today’s festivities.