About 2,000 people gathered at Westminster Abbey in London this morning to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's coronation.

Among those in attendance were 20 members of the Royal Family, the CBC's Ann MacMillan reported, clearly accenting the monarchy's future in the U.K.

They included Prince Charles and Camilla, who have taken on a greater role in recent years, and Charles's son Prince William and his wife Kate, who are expecting their first child in July.

"The Queen seems to be beginning to hand over some of her duties," MacMillan said.

"There is no suggestion that Queen Elizabeth will ever step down, however, as some European monarchs have done.

"She'll never abdicate. She's made that clear. She's talked always about her duty."

Elizabeth, now 87, was crowned in the abbey on June 2, 1953, in a ceremony rich with more than 1,000 years of tradition.

Tuesday's anniversary service featured hymns, prayers, a reading from Prime Minister David Cameron and a poem written for the occasion by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

The jewel-encrusted, golden St. Edward's Crown will sit on the altar — the first time it has left the Tower of London since the 1953 coronation.

The Queen's 91-year-old husband, Prince Philip, missed a reception event Monday night, but was at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday.

Buckingham Palace officials said Philip was "unwell," but did not elaborate on his health problem. The prince had been scheduled to join the Queen at the reception at St. James's Palace that featured performances by opera group Il Divo.