Queen Elizabeth will not attend Saturday’s 243rd Epsom derby, marking the second platinum anniversary event she had to retire from due to ongoing mobility issues.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Friday that the 96-year-old monarch will watch the derby on TV at Windsor Castle. Her daughter Anne, the royal princess, will be present on her behalf, the palace said.
The derby, along with a stellar pop concert, is expected to be at the center of the third of four days of celebrations marking the 1970s on the queen’s throne.
The Queen also missed Friday’s church service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London after the palace said she had experienced “some discomfort” the day before.
Read more: Mobility problems deter Queen Elizabeth from platinum church service
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However, she managed to pass through the military parade and overpass on Thursday, which marked the beginning of the anniversary celebrations, watching from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with other members of the royal family and waving to thousands of well-wishers.
She later directed the lighting of the main platinum jubilee lighthouse at her home in Windsor Castle near London.
Elizabeth, a devout Christian and also the head of the Church of England, also watches Friday’s service on television.
Her son and heir, Prince Charles, 73, represented her while much attention was paid to her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Megan, who made their first public appearance together in Britain after retiring two years ago.
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6:51 Queen will not be part of the second day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations Queen will not be part of the second day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Also missing from Friday’s service was her second son, Prince Andrew, 62, who tested positive for COVID-19.
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This spared the royals some inconvenience, with Andrew’s reputation deteriorating after he settled a lawsuit in the United States in February in which he was accused of sexually abusing a woman when she was a minor, he said.
Despite the queen’s absence, several Friday church officials spoke directly to her, knowing she was watching from home.
“Your Majesty, we are sorry that you are not with us this morning, but we are so happy that you are still in the saddle,” said York Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, referring to the Queen’s love of horse racing.
“And we’re all glad there’s more to come.”
2:20 The Queen misses a mass service due to “inconvenience” during the continuation of the jubilee celebrations The Queen misses a mass service due to “inconvenience” during the continuation of the jubilee celebrations
– with files from Reuters and the Associated Press
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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