The Queen has vowed to make a double balcony appearance as she defies her “mobility concerns” to celebrate her 70-year reign.
Her Majesty will delight the crowds by taking to the Buckingham Palace frontage twice as she kick-starts her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The appearances will take place during the monarch’s official Birthday Parade on Thursday, the start of the four-day bank holiday weekend.
A royal source said: “The Queen is determined to take part in the Jubilee celebrations. Trooping was brought forward by one week to be part of the Jubilee this year and the Queen very much wants to be part of it.”
The monarch is also hoping to attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday with her wider family.
It is expected the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of York, 62, may attend despite being stripped of their royal duties.
It could be the first time Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, have been seen alongside the Windsor clan since Megxit and when they accused an unnamed senior royal of racism during their Oprah Winfrey interview.
It is also feared the Queen may miss Saturday’s Epsom Derby for just the third time of her reign to “pace herself” for her the jubilee festivities.
Sources close to the monarch, 96, indicated it is “increasingly unlikely” she will make the trip.
The passionate horse owner and breeder was due to be greeted with a special guard of honour including up to 40 of her past and present jockeys. It is believed the Princess Royal will represent the family on her behalf.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment, saying the Queen’s attendance at events would not be confirmed until closer to the time.
At the BBC ’s Party At The Palace concert on Saturday, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge are said to be preparing to pay tributes to the Queen during the star-studded event.
Acts including Diana Ross and Queen + Adam Lambert will perform in front of Buckingham Palace. The Queen is not expected to be there and will watch it on TV from Windsor.
Ed Sheeran will perform his love song Perfect at the Jubilee Pageant in a moving tribute to the Queen and her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh on Sunday.
He will sing at the finale of the carnival procession in London ahead of the national anthem.
Footage featuring images of the Queen and the Duke, 99, who died in April last year during the pandemic, will fill giant screens around the stage.
Other tributes to Philip will appear in the pageant, including a Bollywood-inspired interpretation of the Queen and the duke’s wedding day.
A 20ft wedding cake, housing a sound system playing Bollywood anthems and joined by 250 dancers, will proceed down The Mall in a reimagining of their 1947 marriage celebration.
