Buckingham Palace said on Thursday that the Queen experienced “some discomfort” during the first day of her platinum jubilee celebration and that she would be left out of the important event on the second day.
“The Queen really enjoyed the birthday parade and today’s Flypast, but she experienced a bit of discomfort,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Thursday.
“Given the trip and the activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, His Majesty has reluctantly concluded that he will not attend,” he continued.
In years past, the monarch rarely ruled out commitments at the last minute. But his advanced age has made it difficult to work on the busy schedule, full of appointments and official appointments, which has defined most of his reign. As she has grown older, the Queen has reduced her number of commitments to focus on basic constitutional duties as head of the Church of England and head of state, such as opening parliaments and hearings. with the Prime Minister and new ambassadors to the United Kingdom. He started using a cane in public last year. The palace has given no reason to think that the queen is ill. However, her age and the fact that she is the most recognized woman in the world often fuels speculation when something goes wrong with the British sovereign. The palace has tried to find a balance between being truthful and preventing people from worrying too much.
Last year, officials moved quickly to alleviate concerns about the monarch’s health when he canceled a trip to Northern Ireland. Fears calmed down immediately when a source close to the palace told CNN he was in a “good mood,” but it later emerged he had spent the night in hospital for what a palace spokesman called “preliminary investigations.” .
Thursday’s announcement was not entirely unexpected. Even before the jubilee events began, a royal source told CNN that the monarch’s presence “would not be confirmed until much closer to the hour or the same day.” And while the Queen’s absence was probably felt in the cathedral on Friday, she was watching the acts on television from Windsor Castle, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace told CNN.
“The Queen will be disappointed to be lost today because her faith is so important to her. She has always been,” said CNN Royal Historian Kate Williams.
“Her role as head of the Church of England. It’s not always what we think when we think of the queen … but it means a lot to her. She swore to God on the day of her coronation … so that will mean a lot to her that this service is there and of course she just couldn’t come here if she really is. “
Four days of celebrations to commemorate his seven decades on the throne began on Thursday with Trooping the Color, a 100-year-old traditional military show featuring 1,500 soldiers and officers, 400 musicians and 250 horses.
The queen did not fill the ceremonial role of the monarch on horseback, her son and heir, Prince Charles, filled, but nevertheless delighted the fans with her presence, looking from the famous balcony of the palace. a sea of red and white. and blue as huge crowds waving flags flocked to the mall to see her and her family. In the evening he took part in a beacon lighting ceremony from Windsor Castle.
The festivities will also include Friday service, a concert at the palace on Saturday and a pageant on Sunday.