Queen Elizabeth II will not attend the State Opening of Parliament today. This will be the first time in 59 years that Her Majesty will miss the State Opening at the Palace of Westminster.
The Palace commented on the situation as follows: “Her Majesty has decided to skip the annual event that opens the new political year, because she continues to have problems with mobility. The ‘reluctant’ decision was made after consultation with her doctors,” a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said.
Queen Elizabeth II at the Opening of Parliament in 2021 / Associated Press
It is reported that at the request of Her Majesty and with the consent of the relevant authorities , Prince Charles of Wales will read the speech of Elizabeth II on behalf of the Queen in the presence of the Duke of Cambridge William.
The last time the monarch missed the opening of Parliament was in 1963 when she was pregnant with her youngest child, Prince Edward.
Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of Parliament in different years / Associated Press
Her Majesty’s withdrawal from the event has raised new concerns about her well-being ahead of her platinum jubilee celebrations in four weeks. It is hoped that the monarch will be able to attend some of the festivities during the four days of celebration, but it is likely that Her Majesty will decide which events to attend each morning.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles at the Opening of Parliament in 2021 / Associated Press
The royal family is also expected to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace . This may be a historical photo, because such a large-scale event in the life of Her Majesty may no longer be.
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