The 95-year-old monarch is suffering from health problems that have been affecting her day-to-day life significantly ever since she contracted Covid-19 in February. In wake of this, a palace source told The Mail on Sunday that the public should start thinking the Queen will not attend public events unless specified by the palace on the day.
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Replaced gracefully
The presence of the monarch who will turn 96-year-old on Thursday will be a bonus and not a guarantee. Meaning, someone else will have to represent her. This decision implies Prince Charles will play an even bigger role in the Monarchy's survival and will most probably be representing the Queen in her missed engagements. As such, things rest upon Prince Charles and Camilla’s leadership. For the first time in 52 years, Prince Charles stood in for the Queen during the Maundy Service on Thursday.
While the Queen does not appear to be suffering from a new illness and has appeared to be in good health at virtual engagements, she was unable to attend the service at St George's Chapel, which is close to her Windsor Castle apartments.
Fading away
The Queen's participation at most engagements has been arranged for months and typically announced publicly weeks in advance during her record-breaking 70-year reign. However, Buckingham Palace has had to make multiple last-minute announcements in recent months notifying that the Queen will not be able to take part in the events due to mobility concerns. Her most recent public appearance was on March 29 at Westminster Abbey for the thanksgiving service for her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
As such, aides will now only confirm her participation on the day of an event under a new strategy. An insider confirmed:
The assumption must now be that the Queen will not be present at events. If Her Majesty does attend, it will be decided on the day and she will be accompanied by another member of the Royal Family.
The information comes after she recently missed her Easter Sunday Service at the Windsor Castle which has been a tradition for Her Majesty.
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