Surprise visits, pulling pints and a day at the races… royals tour UK for Jubilee celebration

The royal family met well-wishers celebrating the Jubilee across the UK yesterday as the Queen recovered at Windsor Castle from mobility issues.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte made a surprise visit to Wales with their parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge yesterday as Princess Anne stood in for the Queen at Epsom Races.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Northern Ireland, with Edward pulling a pint of Guinness at a 1950s pop-up diner, part of a vintage seaside funfair at Bangor, Co Down. He also visited Belfast with his wife, Sophie, where they met children taking part in street performances.

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge were with Charlotte and George at Cardiff Castle, where a concert ­honouring the monarch was held in the grounds last night.

George was pictured working the controls of a technical desk, while Charlotte grinned at her brother as she conducted musicians with her hands. It was their first official visit to Wales.

When the future king and his sister joined their parents on a walkabout, the eight-year-old prince and seven-year-old princess collected bouquets of flowers.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were absent from Jubilee celebrations yesterday, instead celebrating daughter Lilibet’s first birthday at Windsor.

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The Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla, and the Cambridges all wished Lilibet a happy birthday through their social media accounts.

The Queen met Lilibet for the first time this weekend and spent personal time with Harry and Meghan and their son, Archie.

The Sussexes are keeping a low profile but attended the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, which the Queen missed after experiencing some discomfort during the first day of Jubilee celebrations.

The monarch was unable to attend Epsom Races yesterday but Princess Anne was all smiles when she arrived in her place with her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Anne was joined in the royal box by her daughter, Zara, who was with her husband Mike Tindall, and her son Peter Phillips, who was pictured with his girlfriend, who has been named in numerous reports as Lindsay Wallace.

Zara said of the Queen’s absence: “She will be watching on the TV – she has a few runners today dotted around the country, so she knows exactly what’s going on.

“She’ll just be sat on the sofa watching the TV. She’ll be in her comfy clothes.”

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Her husband, Mike, added: “The Queen is such a wonderful woman and I have said this numerous times, but in terms of how you want a leader to be, she is that person and someone who sets an example.

“It’s such a shame that she’s not here with us but I know she’ll be tuned in and watching from home.”

Jockeys who have ­ridden for the Queen, a racehorse owner and breeder, donned the royal racing silks and forming a guard of honour before the national anthem was sung.

Frankie Dettori and Willie Carson, who have ridden some of the Queen’s most memorable winners, joined other jockeys in lining the course.

Describing the pride he felt while riding for the Queen in her racing colours, Dettori said: “Every time you see these (colours) on your peg you (have) this sense of importance and it’s a great honour.”

After the races, Anne could be seen waving and laughing, while thanking those around her for a warm welcome.

The princess was given a painting of Dunfermline, the Queen’s winner of The Oaks race in 1977, as a gift to the monarch.

Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo were pictured leaving the Maison Estelle private member’s club at 1am on Friday night.