Prince Andrew tests positive for COVID-19 days after meeting Queen

Prince Andrew has pulled out of the Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen in London today after testing positive for COVID-19, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. 

• Prince Andrew will not attend the Service of Thanksgiving for the Queen at St. Paul's Cathedral today, after testing positive for COVID-19.
• The Duke of York, 62, has reportedly seen the Queen at Windsor on multiple occasions over the past few days. 
• In other royal news, The Queen pulls out of Jubilee thanksgiving service after 'discomfort' at Trooping the Colour.
  

Prince Andrew will miss the Service of Thanksgiving in honor of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in London today, after contracting COVID-19 for seemingly the first time. 

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday that the Duke of York tested positive for the virus after taking a standard routine test and would therefore be unable to attend the historic ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral on Friday. 

The 62-year-old has reportedly seen the Queen in person at Windsor over the past few days but has not been in her physical presence since learning he had COVID-19. Prince Andrew was also absent at yesterday's Trooping the Color, which celebrated Her Majesty's 70-year-long reign and official birthday with an extravagant military parade at Buckingham Palace. His lack of visibility at the festival is just one of the many after-effects of his high-profile 2021 sex abuse case, in which he was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexually assaulting her when she was a minor. 

The news of Prince Andrew's positive COVID-19 status comes shortly after it was confirmed that the Queen will also not be attending the Jubilee thanksgiving service. 

Palace officials announced on Thursday that the decision had been made with "great reluctance" and in consideration of the "journey and activity" involved in the 96-year-old's participation at the event. Despite appearing in good spirits on the balcony of the Trooping the Colour, it's understood that the Queen was battling "discomfort" during the high-energy pageant. 

The eldest of the Queen's children, Prince Charles, will officially represent the beloved monarch at today's service. He will be joined at the cathedral by the Royal Family en-masse, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as 400 invited guests. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are also expected to attend. 

After the service, which begins at 11.30 am, a Guildhall reception will be held by the Lord Mayor. It's been reported that Harry and Meghan are‘ likely’ to attend the Platinum Jubilee event without baby Lilibet, who may be too young for such a formal event.