Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, will not join family members for a Platinum Jubilee thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral in London on Friday after testing positive for coronavirus, a source has told CNN.

"After undertaking a routine test The Duke has tested positive for Covid and with regret will no longer be attending tomorrow’s service," the royal source said. 

He has seen his mother in the last few days but has been undertaking regular testing and has not seen her since he tested positive, the source added.

Prince Andrew was stripped of royal duties and his HRH title in January in the wake of his civil sexual assault lawsuit in the US. He has since settled that suit out of court, but his lengthy association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has severely tarnished his reputation and his involvement in the weekend had posed awkward questions for organizers.

Any royal fan knows the importance of dressing for the occasion, and those who gathered along The Mall certainly didn't disappoint on Thursday.

Whether it's getting creative with the Union Jack or being inspired by the Queen's troops, CNN met some of those who brought their royal fashion A-game.

Grace Gothard, from Surrey, southern England, said she made her own dress for the celebrations.

"I came for the Queen because she hasn't been seen much recently," the 60-year-old said.

Moira Smith, 81, from the Lake District, Cumbria, and Sally Conway, 57, who lives in London, said they also attended celebrations for the Golden and Diamond Jubilees, as well as royal weddings.

The pair, kitted out in several Union Jack flags, said they enjoy making friends with new people who are enjoying the celebrations. Conway added that it's her birthday today -- even more reason to celebrate.

Meanwhile, 6-year-old Edward Lyon was dressed like a member of the Queen's troops, the Household Division.

He and his mother, Lucy Lyon, 33, traveled from Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands, for their first royal celebration.

"I've had lots of fun. My favorite part was seeing the soldiers," Edward, who wants to be a soldier when he grows up, said.

She’s been photographed, painted and graffitied. She’s been struck on coins, cast in iron, silk-screened onto T-shirts and fired onto plates. There’s even a Barbie doll in her likeness.

At 96 years old, the longest-serving monarch in Britain’s history celebrates seven decades on the throne this year.

Queen Elizabeth II’s reign has seen the proliferation of color photography, the commercialization of television and the pervasiveness of the internet on screens big and small.

Over this time, her image has been widely circulated the world over, making the Queen one of the most recognizable faces in history.

As the UK celebrates a four-day holiday weekend for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, CNN explores some of the official and unofficial, classic and controversial images that turned Elizabeth II into the cultural icon she is today.

Read more here:

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Queen Elizabeth: How 70 years of portraits have made her an icon

Thousands of flag-waving fans descended on London as the four-day festivities marking the Queen's 70th anniversary on the British throne started Thursday.

Royal-watchers flooded The Mall in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the royals as they made their way to Horse Guards Parade for the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Those unable to nab a spot along the procession route gathered at several central London locations to watch the action on big screens.

See more photos here.

Not everyone was enjoying the big occasion, as the latest pictures from the palace balcony show.

The overbearing noise of the 70 aircraft passing over Buckingham Palace proved too much for the young prince, who covered his ears and appeared to be letting out a scream.

The youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who is 4 years old, was also seen looking fed up and pulling faces during the six-minute flypast staged by the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Nevertheless, his great-grandmother, mother, grandfather and sister do not appear to be remotely bothered by Prince Louis' refusal to maintain protocol, as they smile and chat to each other.

Watch the moment here:

French President Emmanuel Macron has recorded a video message in English for the Queen, who he described as a "constant presence" and a "source of wisdom."

With the French and European Union flags in the background, Macron extended his "most sincere" congratulations on behalf of France to the British monarch on her Platinum Jubilee.

In a statement posted on social media Thursday, Macron said the Queen is "our friend, our close ally, our example of service to others."

"To celebrate you today is to celebrate the sincere and deep friendship that unites our two countries and your dedication to serving it," he said in the statement which was accompanied by French subtitles. 

The Queen, he said, is the "golden thread" that has bound the UK and France during her 70-year reign, during which his country "has relied on very few constants" on an international level. 

He continued: "Your first toast to one of my predecessors, René Coty, reminded us that 'trust and understanding should endure forever.' Your words were matched by a lifetime of devotion to our alliance."

"This year, the seventieth of your reign, we celebrate your achievements. We are grateful for your courage and we share the respect and love that the British people and Commonwealth have always shown you," he added.

The royal family gathered on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch the 70-aircraft flypast soar above central London.

Crowds of flag-waving royal-watchers gathered below as the Queen, wearing sunglasses, watched on flanked by her family. To her right stood her eldest son Prince Charles, together with his wife the Duchess of Cornwall. Meanwhile, on her left were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte.

Also present are the Queen's children Edward and Anne, as well as a number of other relatives. The Sussexes, who were at the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade earlier but not seen, are not joining the royals on the balcony as the Queen decided last month that only royals carrying out official duties will be included.

Seventy aircraft, including the iconic Red Arrows and historic Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, put on the spectacular air show over London to mark the occasion.

Among the aircraft taking to the skies were Spitfires, Chinooks, Pumas and Apaches, some of which flew in formation marking out the number 70.

The King's Troop Horse Artillery has fired an 82 gun-salute in Hyde Park moments before the Royal Family appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen has emerged onto the Buckingham Palace balcony once more. This time she's joined by more family members for an appearance in front of thousands of roaring well-wishers who have been allowed to stream down The Mall towards the palace.

Alongside the Queen are three of her children, Charles, Edward and Anne, Prince William and Catherine and their children, as well as a number of other relatives.

The Sussexes, who were at the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade earlier but not seen, are not joining the royals on the balcony as the Queen decided last month that only royals carrying out official duties��will be included.

Watch here: