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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Katie Weston

'What is Queen thinking?' Owen Jones slams Prince Andrew attending Jubilee

Owen Jones has lashed out at plans to involve Prince Andrew in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The columnist said the Duke of York's appearance could "sully" celebrations, adding: "He should accept no role of any description in public life."

Prince Andrew, who stepped down from royal duties in the wake of a sex scandal, missed Trooping the Colour today but is expected to attend a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral with family members tomorrow.

Andrew denied the allegations against him and he later came to an out of court settlement with his accuser. The settlement is not an admission of guilt.

Mr Jones told LBC yesterday: "Prince Andrew is going to be rolled out for the Jubilee. Again, I do actually, despite supporting an elected head of state, have a lot of respect for the Queen. I think most people in this country do.

Follow all the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with our live blog here

Prince Andrew on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in 2019 (Getty Images)

"But what is she thinking? Allowing this guy to come out and sully her celebrations?"

After presenter Iain Dale pointed out that Andrew will not be appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony today, he continued: "Well he's going to have some part isn't he.

"He should accept no role of any description in public life. He's still going to be a very rich guy and live a life of privilege. There's no human right to have a public role in the way that he still has, even though he's being stripped back."

His comments come as Jubilee celebrations marking the Queen's 70-year reign kick off, with the monarch watching from the balcony accompanied by her cousin the Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Scots Guards, when the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Guards make their way back from the parade ground.

Crowds were treated to the sight of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children taking part in their first carriage procession.

The columnist said Prince Andrew's appearance could "sully" celebrations (@LBC /Twitter)

Cheers went up from thousands of spectators on The Mall as they caught sight of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with proud parent Kate and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The traditional carriage procession left Buckingham Palace ahead of Trooping the Colour, also known as the Birthday Parade - the start of four days of festivities honouring the Queen.

The nation is embracing the special extended bank holiday weekend of pomp, pageantry and star-studded festivities, which will see celebrities and the public gather in their millions in tribute to the monarch.

Thousands of wellwishers draped in Union flags, party hats and plastic tiaras flocked to central London for the Trooping spectacle.

The young Cambridges and the duchesses' carriage, known as a barouche, was followed by another carrying the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Mountbatten Windsor and Viscount Severn. George, Charlotte and Louis smiled and waved enthusiastically as they sat in a row, with Louis the youngest in the middle of his older siblings.

Prince Andrew attending church with the Queen in 2020 (UK Press via Getty Images)

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Princess Royal's husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence processed in the final carriage.

On horseback at the rear in their uniforms were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal, resplendent in their military regalia - including their new Platinum Jubilee medals.

The once-in-a-lifetime jubilee celebrations will see members of the monarchy, celebrities from the UK and across the globe, and people from all parts of the UK gather to recognise the Queen's legacy over the weekend.

The Queen will return to the balcony for a second time on Thursday, accompanied by working royals and the Cambridge children, to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force.

A service of thanksgiving will be held at St Paul's on Friday, while Epsom Derby Day is on Saturday.

On the final day, revellers will take to the streets of London for the Jubilee Pageant, that will see each decade of the monarch's reign celebrated with "national treasures" puppets, dancers and music.

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