The palace says the public must accept that the queen will not attend public events – after she “unfortunately” canceled her engagements due to mobility problems
- A new strategy will see the queen confirm her presence on the day of the events
- A source said the public must accept that the queen will have no commitments
- The 95-year-old monarch had to miss commitments due to mobility problems
- Prince Charles is now expected to continue his involvement in the monarchy
By Kate Muncie for The Mail On Sunday
Posted: 22:03, 16 April 2022 | Updated: 23:50, 16 April 2022
The public must begin to accept that the queen will not attend public events, a source from the palace told The Mail on Sunday.
In recent months, Buckingham Palace has been forced to make several last-minute announcements that the Queen has “unfortunately” resigned due to mobility problems.
Under a new strategy, assistants will now confirm her presence only on the day of the event.
“It is now assumed that the queen will not attend the events,” the source said. “If Her Majesty is present, this will be decided on the day and she will be accompanied by another member of the royal family.”
During her record 70 years in office, the Queen’s presence at most engagements was planned for months and was often announced publicly weeks in advance.
But the monarch’s presence – which celebrates its 96th birthday on Thursday – will now be a bonus, not a guarantee. The decision means an even greater role for Prince Charles, under whose leadership – to a large extent – the monarchy continues effectively.
Prince Charles (pictured with the queen) will play an even bigger role in the monarchy, as a source says society should not expect the queen to appear at public events
The Queen was dealing with ongoing mobility issues, but she looked good during her last virtual engagements
On Thursday, Charles took the Queen’s place when she missed the Maundy service for the first time in 52 years. Although the Queen is not suffering from a new illness and has performed well during virtual engagements, ongoing mobility problems mean she is unable to attend the ceremony at St George’s Chapel near her Windsor Castle apartments.
Her last public appearance was on March 29 at the Thanksgiving Office for her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey.
But in the past six months, she has retired from several other events historically central to her diary, including the Sunday Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph and the Annual Service of the British Community.
The aides hope the queen will be able to personally attend some of the events organized to mark her 70th birthday, although they are expected to be few.
Charles applauds families opening refugee homes in an exciting Easter message
“This year I had the great privilege of representing Her Majesty the Queen of Holy Thursday Services, when Christians remember that humility and sacrifice are at the heart of our faith.
“At this service, which he attended with my mother so many times over the years, my father, the Duke of Edinburgh, always read the Gospel, which tells how on the night of the Last Supper Jesus knelt before his disciples and washed their weary feet.
“Our Lord told them that He was doing this to give them an example of how to care for and serve one another. This is a message they have never forgotten and it is as challenging today as it was then.
“Today, millions of people find themselves displaced, tired of traveling from troubled places, hurt by the past, afraid of the future – and in need of welcome, rest and kindness.
“In recent years, I have been heartbroken by the suffering of innocent victims of conflict or persecution, some of whom I met and who told me stories of indescribable tragedy as they were forced to flee their country and seek refuge away from home.
“But in the midst of all this sadness and inhumanity, it was deeply exciting to see so many people ready to open their homes to those in need and offer their time and resources to help those facing such devastating grief. and difficulties.
“This Easter, as always, we remember the eternal example of our Lord of goodness in the face of suffering, of courage in the face of fear, of faith in the face of despair. His light triumphs in this dark time. I pray with all my heart that his inspiring example will help us all dispel the darkness of the world.
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