The Queen will not attend tomorrow’s state opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years, Buckingham Palace said.
The Prince of Wales will read a speech by the Queen on her behalf, with the Duke of Cambridge in attendance.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen continues to experience sporadic mobility problems and, after consulting with her doctors, reluctantly decided not to attend the state opening of parliament tomorrow.”
During the ceremony, the monarch read the government’s plans for upcoming legislation.
This is only the third time she has been absent.
So far, the Queen has missed the opening of Parliament only twice during her tenure on the throne – in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant.
A new patent for letters was issued, authorized by the Queen to cover the opening of the state, delegating to state councilors the royal function of opening a new session of parliament.
In this case, it allows Charles and William to exercise this function together. The Queen has not delegated other functions.
The decision was made on Monday.
This is the latest in a series of events she has been forced to miss in recent months.
It is reported that her presence at events is now decided on a case-by-case basis.
In October last year, the Queen sprained her back, which prevented her from attending the memorial service at the Cenotaph.
Then, in February, she tested positive for coronavirus, as a result of which the palace said she had mild cold-like symptoms.
And yet, within two weeks of her diagnosis, she was once again attending virtual engagements.
The Queen was able to attend Prince Philip’s Thanksgiving in late March, but did not attend the Easter Easter service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
During a virtual meeting of hospital staff in London last month, she admitted that she was “very tired and exhausted” from her attack on COVID-19.
By the end of April, the 96-year-old monarch, who is celebrating his platinum anniversary this year, managed to hold a personal audience with the Swiss president at Windsor Castle after a week-long vacation at the Sandringham mansion.
Buckingham Palace said at the time that it planned to attend the opening of parliament, but said confirmation was expected closer.
Her absence will raise fears that she may not be able to take part in her anniversary celebrations, which are just over a month away.
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