The Queen returned to work today in two virtual meetings after missing Monday’s Commonwealth Day service.
Her Majesty held an internet audience via video link from Windsor Castle.
The first was Enkhsukh Battumur, who was presented with his credentials as Ambassador of Mongolia to the Court of St. James.
Then Ganchimeg Purevdorj was received and letters of recall of her predecessor and her own credentials as the Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the court of St. James were presented.
On Monday, the Prince of Wales represented his mother at Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth celebration.
The Queen, who had just recovered from Covid, withdrew from the high-profile event – out of comfort, not a specific illness.
Queen Elizabeth II appears on the screen via video link from Windsor Castle, where she is, during today’s virtual audience.
The virtual audience will be hosted by Her Excellency Rukhshon Emomali, Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan, and her husband Shamsullo Sohibov at Buckingham Palace in London.
Prince William, Camilla, Prince Charles and Kate speak yesterday upon their arrival at Westminster Abbey in London.
In her Commonwealth Day message, the monarch said that in her platinum jubilee year, she was happy to reaffirm the promise she made in 1947 at the age of 21 to devote her life to service.
Some 1,500 guests were due to join the Commonwealth Service on Monday, praising Britain and the international grouping based around its former colonies.
She is the queen and head of state of the UK and 14 other Commonwealth countries or kingdoms around the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada – a group that includes about a quarter of the world’s population.
A source in the royal family told MailOnline: “It is no surprise that the Queen will not be attending the Commonwealth Day service.
“Anyone who reaches the age of 95 will find it difficult to stand for an extended period of time. She herself said that recently it became difficult for her to walk. She is also recovering from Covid.
“I don’t think anyone really expected her to be involved under the circumstances. She must take things steadily. She will be disappointed, but this is a reasonable precaution.
It’s understandable that she’s extremely “regret” about missing out on what was to be her first public performance since October.
“People forget that the Queen is almost 96 years old,” said one of the insiders. “She made no secret of the fact that she now walks with a cane. Mobility is a problem.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses Charles, Camilla, William and Kate at Westminster Abbey.
Pictured: The Prince of Wales addresses guests at the annual Commonwealth Day Reception at Marlborough House in London.
‘My life will always be dedicated to service’: The Queen’s Complete Message for Commonwealth Day
In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, it has been my pleasure to renew my 1947 promise that my life will always be devoted to service.
Today it is a pleasure to see a modern, dynamic and interconnected Commonwealth that combines a rich history and tradition with the great social, cultural and technological achievements of our time. The fact that the Commonwealth is getting higher is the merit of all those who took part in this.
We are nourished and sustained by our relationships, and throughout my life I have been privileged to hear what relationships built on the vast expanse and diversity of the Commonwealth meant to people and communities.
Our family of nations continues to be a point of contact, cooperation and friendship. This is a place where you can come together to achieve common goals and the common good, giving everyone the opportunity to serve and benefit. I hope that during these difficult times, you can draw strength and inspiration from what we share as we work together to create a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future for all.
And on this special day for our family — a year that will include the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting and the Commonwealth Games — I hope we can strengthen our resolve to support and serve each other and work hard to keep the Commonwealth a powerful force. goodness in our world for many generations to come.
ELIZABETH R.
It is understood that the Queen, who contracted Covid last month, is determined to visit Philippe’s memorial and may even be “tuning” in public so she can.
Officials met at Windsor to discuss the situation with her, and it was felt that “prudence was the best part of valor”.
It was decided that it would be “impolite” and “devastating” to make a decision on a Monday morning, hours before it was due, so they decided to make a decision “here and then”.
She is still expected to attend a Thanksgiving service for the life of Prince Philip, her 73-year-old husband, who died at the age of 99 last April at London’s Westminster Abbey at the end of March.
Senior members of the royal family who attended Monday’s Commonwealth Day service included Charles’s wife Camilla, as well as Prince William and his wife Catherine.
But Buckingham Palace said the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester “will no longer attend following the Duke’s positive Covid test.”
“The Queen’s Commonwealth Day message will be distributed as usual,” the spokesperson added.
Princess Alexandra, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Scotland, High Commissioners, Ambassadors, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the UK and the Commonwealth, religious leaders and over 600 schoolchildren and youth attended the service.
It hosted the world premiere of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee-inspired piece, Beacon Of Brightest Light, written by Debbie Wiseman.
Organized by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the event began with a procession of Commonwealth flags, and at the end, members of the royal family will meet with people participating in the service.
It also contained a Commonwealth Day message from the Queen.
The last Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey took place in March 2020, when the number of coronavirus cases skyrocketed and shortly before the UK went into lockdown for the first time.
It was also the last royal event attended by the Queen’s grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, before their shocking departure from the United States.
The Queen has made fewer public appearances during the Covid-19 pandemic and many of her events have moved to virtual events.
The Queen last met with a group of people in public on February 5, the eve of her platinum jubilee, when she hosted a reception at her Sandringham home for local charities, volunteers and former employees of her Sandringham estate.
Concerns about the Queen’s health were raised when she spent a night in the hospital last October, missed a number of events, and was advised by royal doctors to take on light duties.
In November, she refused to host world leaders at the UN climate change summit in Glasgow and canceled an appearance at the Memorial Day parade due to back pain.
She first saw her use a cane and heard complaints of mobility problems even before she was diagnosed with Covid.
She returned to something close to normal work practices shortly before contracting Covid-19.
She was expected to take part in three events this month, including the Commonwealth Service.
The other, a diplomatic reception at Windsor Castle, had already been postponed because the government felt the timing was not right.