Despite Queen Elizabeth II being the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, an aide has explained Her Majesty feels ‘too young at heart’ to take home the coveted ‘Oldie of the Year’ award.
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According to Prince Charles’ wife Camilla, who presented this year’s awards, the ‘Oldie Awards’ ‘recognises the achievements of a range of remarkable older people who have made a special contribution to the world, and who all—in the words of your founding editor, Richard Ingrams—‘still have snap in their celery.’”
Previous title holders have included Eileen Atkins, Glenda Jackson, Peter Blake, David Hockney and even the Queen’s own mother.
‘You are as young as you feel’
The event’s organisers reached out to the Queen this year to ask whether she would be willing to receive the award but received a rather cheeky rejection letter from the 95-years-young monarch.
Gyles Brandreth, the chairman of the awards run by the Oldie Magazine, revealed the letter which was written by one of the Queen’s aides, Tom Laing-Baker:
Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such the Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept and hopes you find a more worthy recipient.
However, despite her claims of being ever spiritedly, the Queen was recently seen donning a cane in public for the first time, during a service at Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth isn't following in her late husband’s footsteps, as Prince Philip had accepted the bitter-sweet award a decade ago. The Duke of Edinburgh joked:
There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all.
Queen or no Queen, the awards were still a hit, with the ‘Oldie of the Year’ title ultimately going to French-American actor and dancer Leslie Caron, who over her career won a Golden Globe Award, two BAFTAs, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
The Queen will soon reach her platinum jubilee
Her Majesty will be celebrating her platinum jubilee next year, marking 70-years of service. The Queen inherited the throne on February 6th 1952, when she was just 25-years-old. The Queen’s platinum jubilee will be celebrated with an extended public holiday from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June and will feature a range of community events as well as the Trooping of the Colour, a pageant and even a massive live concert.
