Queen Elizabeth will miss the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral after experiencing “some discomfort” at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Buckingham Palace has announced. The monarch is skipping the service on Friday “with great reluctance” but would still attend a beacon-lighting event at Windsor Castle on Thursday evening, the palace said. She is believed to have experienced episodic mobility issues during Thursday’s events. It is understood the decision was considered regrettable but sensible due to the length of the journey and time involved and the physical demands the service would require. The statement issued on Thursday evening said: “The queen greatly enjoyed today’s birthday parade and fly-past but did experience some discomfort. “Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty, with great reluctance, has concluded that she will not attend. “The queen is looking forward to participating in tonight’s beacon-lighting event at Windsor Castle and would like to thank all those who made today such a memorable occasion.” It comes after the monarch took centre stage at her historic celebrations on Thursday, greeting crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony, surrounded by her family. UK queen’s Platinum Jubilee: a rundown of four days of festivities Huge cheers erupted from thousands of well-wishers packed on to The Mall in central London as the monarch emerged for the fly-past after Trooping the Colour. Wearing sunglasses, the 96-year-old sovereign looked joyful as she surveyed the patriotic scenes, giving broad smiles as she enjoyed the aircraft display. It was the second of two appearances from the monarch on the balcony on Thursday – the start of an extended Jubilee weekend marking her 70-year-reign. Earlier, she joined her cousin the Duke of Kent on the famous frontage to take a salute of her soldiers returning from Trooping the Colour, after Charles, Prince of Wales, deputised for her on the parade ground. Eighteen royals including the queen stepped out to watch the high-profile fly-past, with the Prince of Wales, Camila, Duchess of Cornwall, William and Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis flanking the monarch. The queen leaned over to chat animatedly with four-year-old great-grandson Louis, who at one stage covered his ears, and reacted with his mouth wide open and eyes tightly shut as the aircraft thundered overhead. He was also spotted resting his chin on his hand and waving towards the sky. UK’s Queen Elizabeth: a lifetime of breaking royal records The six-minute fly-past of more than 70 aircraft, including Apache helicopters, Typhoons and the Red Arrows, flew over the palace. Fifteen RAF Typhoons paid a special tribute to the monarch’s record-breaking reign, flying in the formation of the number 70, prompting smiles from the queen. Dressed in a dusky dove blue Angela Kelly coat which she wore for her official Jubilee portrait, and matching hat, the queen was holding a walking stick and wearing the Guards’ Badge on her coat.