Prince Charles is in line to deliver the Queen’s speech at the State Opening of Parliament as he fears she doesn’t feel fit enough to attend.
Palace and government officials are preparing contingency plans to make up for her absence should health or mobility issues prevent her from reading her May 10 speech.
The 95-year-old Queen has withdrawn from a number of important occasions over the past six months amid concerns over her health, most recently delegating to Charles for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey last week.
The ongoing uncertainty has meant her presence at all future events on the day will be confirmed with a member of the royal family on standby should she not feel able to attend.
A royal source told the Sunday Times: “The date is on Her Majesty’s diary and she hopes to attend. The Queen stays fit and active, and it’s amazing how much she’s still doing.
“But her diary is designed to reflect the realities of a woman her age and to ensure she can continue to do as much as she can and wants to.”
There are contingency plans in place for Prince Charles to deliver the Queen’s speech at this year’s State Opening of Parliament in May if she is unable to attend. Pictured: The Queen sits on the sovereign’s throne in the House of Lords at last year’s inauguration ceremony
“All events are now being planned so that should Her Majesty be unable to attend at short notice, another member of the Royal Family will still be present.”
Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey would have been the 95-year-old’s first personal public engagement since she was advised by her doctors to rest after being hospitalized in October and tested positive for Covid-19 on February 20 with “mild symptoms”. 19 was tested. .
Most notably, she did not attend Memorial Day ceremonies at the cenotaph last November after sustaining a sprained back and being advised to rest.
She’s spent the past few weeks doing only light tasks, including a handful of virtual viewers.
But she returned to personal engagements earlier this month, meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle and later the head of Britain’s armed forces.
She now uses a cane regularly and recently opened up about her mobility issues, telling two senior military officers during a reception at Windsor Castle: “Well, as you can see, I can’t move” when asked how she was doing.
Prince Charles (pictured with Camilla, right, during a trip to Ireland on Friday) is on standby to deliver the Queen’s speech at the State Opening of Parliament on May 10 if his mother is unable to
Earlier this week, the Queen, who has taken up permanent residence at Windsor Castle, appeared via video link during a virtual audience to receive Egypt’s Ambassador to the UK, Nasser Kame, and Ms Heba Ismail at Buckingham Palace.
It is believed that her convenient journey from Windsor Westminster Palace was the reason for her absence from the Commonwealth Day service, but it is believed she will nevertheless attend a Thanksgiving service to be held at the Abbey on Tuesday.
The palace has yet to confirm whether the 95-year-old Queen will be present for the service, with a source saying she still “hopes to attend”. The event will be broadcast live on BBC One from 10:30am to 12:15pm.
Tuesday’s service will “particularly recognize the Duke of Edinburgh’s contribution to public life and his unwavering support of the over 700 charities” with which he has been associated throughout his life.
Those in attendance will include members of the British royal family and foreign royal families, as well as Philip’s other family and friends.
There will also be more than 500 representatives from Philip’s patronage and charities, reflecting the causes and charitable interests he championed and a tribute to those who continue his work.
The Queen is still hoping to attend a thanksgiving service dedicated to her late husband Prince Philip (pictured together in 2014) to be held at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday
The service of thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip takes place at Westminster Abbey
There will also be representatives of the Queen and of Philip’s royal household, representatives of Philip’s regimental affiliations in the UK and Commonwealth, and members of the clergy and other faiths.
It comes ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer. Events include a live concert featuring some of the world’s biggest stars, a thanksgiving service and a day at the races.
The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will be held in London on Sunday 5th June and will be attended by over 5,000 people from across the UK and Commonwealth. Taking place against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace and the surrounding streets, it combines street art, theatre, music and circus.
The Queen last attended a formal public engagement on October 19 when she hosted a reception for global business leaders at Windsor Castle.
The next morning, on a doctor’s advice, she abruptly cut short a long-planned trip to Northern Ireland later that day.
Later that day she was secretly admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital in London in what was only ever described as “preliminary examinations” and held there overnight.
Her medical household advised her to rest for several weeks and even canceled her “inked” appearance at the Memorial Sunday service in November, sparking further concerns for her health.