Her Majesty was due to attend
the event but due to health issues, the Prince of Wales will instead go in her
place, reading out her speech on her behalf.
Buckingham Palace said in a
statement: “The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and
in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not
attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow.
“At Her Majesty’s
request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of
Wales will read The Queen’s Speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of
Cambridge also in attendance.”
A new Letters Patent
authorized by the Queen was issued to cover the State Opening delegating to
Counsellors of State the royal function of opening a new session of Parliament.
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The Queen will miss the State Opening of Parliament
In this instance, it enables
Charles and Prince William to jointly exercise that function. No other
functions have been delegated by the Queen.
This is the first time that
the monarch has missed this event since the fifties.
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Prince Charles will attend the event on Her Majesty’s behalf
On Tuesday, the Prince of
Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be in their usual seats, while the Duke
of Cambridge will sit opposite Camilla. It will be the Duke’s first time
attending.
The Queen is still understood
to take part in a number of private engagements later in the week.
Her Majesty is thought to
have a busy diary at Windsor this week with a call with Australia undertaken on
Monday, and a planned virtual Privy Council and phone audience with the Prime
Minister on Wednesday.
