Queen Elizabeth withdraws from parliament, allowing Prince Charles to take over
Key Takeaways:
- Due to a return of mobility difficulties, the 96-year-old monarch will not perform the inauguration of parliament on Tuesday, according to Buckingham Palace.
- Her decision to forego the parliament inauguration, according to a source, was based on problems she had last year and that she had only made the decision on Monday.
The 96-year-old monarch will not perform the opening of parliament on Tuesday due to a recurrence of mobility concerns, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday, the latest event she will not attend due to her health.
The monarch's son and heir, Prince Charles, will step in to replace her for the set-piece ceremony in which the monarch lays out the government's objectives, according to the palace.
"The queen continues to have episodic mobility challenges and has reluctantly decided not to attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow in consulting with her doctors," Buckingham Palace said.
"At Her Majesty's request and with the permission of the required authorities, The Prince of Wales will make the queen's speech on her behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also present."
Since being hospitalized for a night last October for an unidentified illness and then being told by her doctors to take a rest, the queen has had to cut back on engagements.
The palace would not reveal the nature of Elizabeth's illness. Still, a source said her decision to skip the parliament inauguration was based on troubles she experienced last year and that she had only made a choice on Monday.
Many of Elizabeth's duties have been carried out remotely by the world's eldest and longest-reigning queen. In April, she attended a memorial service for her late husband, who died last year, her first public appearance since falling unwell.
She stated earlier this week that she would not attend the traditional summer garden parties at Buckingham Palace. Still, she has continued to hold virtual and in-person engagements at her Windsor Castle home.
According to a royal insider, she will have virtual and phone meetings with the Privy Council and Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week.
The State Opening of Parliament is a ritual marked by great pomp and splendour. The queen arrives in a State Coach led by mounted soldiers in ceremonial costume, and the Imperial State Crown and other regalia arrive in its carriage.
The monarch dons the Robe of State before leading a procession to the upper chamber of parliament, the House of Lords, where she sits on a throne and formally opens a new session of parliament by reading a speech explaining the government's legislative goals.
During her 70-year reign, Elizabeth had missed the event twice: in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant with sons Andrew and Edward. Prince Charles has already attended the unveiling, but this will be the first time William, a future king, will be officially involved.
In June, Britain will commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with four days of festivities. Last week, Buckingham Palace said she planned to attend most of the key events during the celebrations, but her attendance would not be confirmed until the day.