The Queen won't attend the annual Commonwealth Day service with senior royals and as an alternative be represented by the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace has introduced.
The top of state, who has not too long ago recovered from a bout of Covid, hoped to affix Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the necessary event within the royal calendar.
However a Buckingham Palace spokesman mentioned: “After discussing the preparations with the Royal Family, the Queen has requested the Prince of Wales to symbolize Her Majesty on the Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
“The Queen will proceed with different deliberate engagements, together with in-person audiences, within the week forward.”
The spokesman revealed one other member of the royal household had contracted Covid after the Queen, Charles and Camilla all not too long ago examined constructive for the virus and later returned to royal duties.
He mentioned: “The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will now not attend, following the duke’s constructive check for Covid.
“The Queen’s Commonwealth Day message will likely be distributed within the common means.”
The Queen’s resolution to not attend the service is prone to be interpreted as a precautionary measure by royal commentators and a sensible transfer, slightly than a brand new well being subject.
She now commonly makes use of a stick and not too long ago commented about her mobility points, telling two senior army officers throughout a Windsor Fortress reception “Nicely, as you'll be able to see, I can’t transfer,” when requested how she was.
With the Queen attributable to rejoice her 96th birthday in underneath six weeks, sustaining her consolation is a consideration and it's understood she has been pacing herself, though the pinnacle of state was eager to do what work she might throughout her bout of Covid.
The service would have been the Queen’s first main public look since reaching her Platinum Jubilee milestone.
She final pulled out of attending the service 9 years in the past in 2013 whereas recovering from a nasty bout of gastroenteritis.
Earlier than that, the Queen had not been absent from a Commonwealth Day Observance service for 20 years, the final event being when she had flu in 1993.
She returned to in-person occasions on Monday, after contracting the virus, when she welcomed Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau to Windsor Fortress for an viewers.
Throughout her assembly with Mr Trudeau, the pinnacle of state was not pictured with the strolling stick she has been utilizing of late and the pair shared a joke initially of their assembly.
The monarch examined constructive for Covid on February 20 and Buckingham Palace mentioned on the time she was experiencing “gentle cold-like signs”.
The Queen final met a bunch of individuals in public on February 5, the eve of reaching her Platinum Jubilee, when she hosted a reception at her Sandringham residence for native charity employees, volunteers and former workers from her Sandringham property.
Considerations have been raised in regards to the Queen’s well being when she spent an evening in hospital final October, missed a string of occasions and was suggested to undertake gentle duties by royal docs.
She had solely returned to one thing approaching regular working practices simply earlier than contracting Covid-19.
In the course of the Commonwealth Day service, the 1,500-strong congregation will embrace Princess Alexandra, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Commonwealth secretary-general Baroness Scotland, excessive commissioners, ambassadors, senior politicians and dignitaries from throughout the UK and Commonwealth, religion leaders and greater than 600 schoolchildren and younger folks.
The service will function the world premiere of the musical piece Beacon Of Brightest Mild, impressed by the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, composed by Debbie Wiseman.
The occasion will start with a procession of Commonwealth flags and members of the royal household will meet folks concerned within the service on the finish.
Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the occasion will function the Queen’s Commonwealth Day message.
Post a Comment