The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh smile at the City crowds as they walk from St Paul's Cathedral to the Chapter House for lunch . They had attended the rededication in the Cathedral of the High Altar , which was damaged in London's wartime bombing. It now commemorates the men and women of the Commonwealth who gave their lives in two workd wars . The service marked the reopening of the whole of the Cathedral (with the exception of the North Transept ) after 17 years' reconstruction work . 7th May 1958