Queen Elizabeth To Miss State Opening Of Parliament, Hands Responsibility To Charles And William

Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen Elizabeth has pulled out of the State Opening of Parliament to be held on Tuesday.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said that she continues to experience "episodic mobility problems," reported Hello! magazine. The statement further read that in consultation with the monarch's doctors, she has "reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament."

According to BBC, this will be the first time since 1963 that she will have missed this constitutional ceremony. It sets out the government's legislative plans. The Queen's son, Prince Charles will deliver the speech on Tuesday for her. Charles and his son Prince William have jointly been given the responsibility to open Parliament on the Queen's behalf.

Buckingham Palace had been saying that the 96-year-old monarch hoped to attend, but confirmed Monday evening that she will not go to the ceremony in Westminster.

As for the Imperial State Crown, it will still be brought to Parliament, and the Queen's throne will remain empty. Charles, his wife Camilla, and William are expected to be seated in front of the assembled parliamentarians.

The 96-year-old monarch's absence follows her missing events at Easter, including the Maundy Service. There was also an announcement that she would not host royal garden parties in the coming months.

The only public event outside of royal residences that she has attended so far this year is the Thanksgiving service for Prince Philip in March.

Even though she has been skipping events, it is understood that she is planning to go ahead with other appointments this week. They include regular meetings with the Prime Minister and Privy Council. They are held virtually or by phone, and some private engagements.

The beginning of the parliamentary year is marked by the State Opening of Parliament. The Queen's speech sets out the agenda of the government and the laws that it wants to introduce. The monarch, as head of state, usually reads out the speech. The Queen only missed it twice during her 70-year reign. One time was in 1959 and the other in 1963 because of pregnancies. In her absence, the speech was delivered by the Lord Chancellor, but this year, the Prince of Wales will stand in for the Queen.