Queen Elizabeth II to miss Parliament opening due to mobility issues

Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen Elizabeth II will not attend the State Opening of Parliament.

The reason given was mobility issues, The Associated Press reported.

This will be the first time since 1963 that she has not attended, BBC News reported. She previously missed it twice in 1959 and 1963, both due to pregnancy.

The 96-year-old monarch has recently canceled several public appearances, including Maundy Service for Easter.

Officials had said that the queen planned on attending, but that she will not go to the ceremony because of “episodic mobility problems” and that the decision was reached in consultation with her doctors, according to BBC News.

The State Opening of Parliament is the start of the parliamentary year, and the speech given by the queen sets the agenda for the government, including which laws will be introduced.

Other adjustments to the ceremony have been made over the past few years, including the queen not wearing the Imperial State Crown or ceremonial robes. Last year, the ceremony was scaled back because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The monarch has had several health issues over the past few months.

She was hospitalized in October for an unspecified illness, Reuters reported. She also was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this year.

This year, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales will deliver the speech to open Parliament, BBC News reported.

Prince William will also attend the ceremony, Reuters reported.

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