The Queen is to miss the State Opening of Parliament but when was her last public appearance?
The Prince of Wales will read the Queen’s Speech on her behalf, Buckingham Palace has announced.
It is just the third time the Queen has missed the occasion in her 70-year reign.
A new Letters Patent authorised 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.
In this instance, Charles and William will jointly exercise that function. No other functions have been delegated by the Queen.
The episodic mobility issues are said to be a continuation of the problems the Queen has suffered since the autumn.
These are the same issues that prevented Her Majesty from attending Maundy Day in April and Commonwealth Day in March.
When was the Queen last seen?
Queen Elizabeth II was last seen in public on Tuesday, March 29 2022.
This was when the Queen attended the memorial service for her beloved late husband, Prince Philip, at Westminster Abbey in London.
Her Majesty was accompanied by many members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall.
Will the Queen attend other engagements this week?
The Queen is understood 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.
Her Majesty is also expected to undertake some private engagements later in the week.
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