Prince Charles, the son and heir of Queen Elizabeth II, delivered the state opening of the U.K. Parliament for the first time, standing in for his mother who is suffering mobility problems.
The Prince of Wales, wearing military regalia, outlined the agenda of Boris Johnson’s government in the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lords, surrounded by lawmakers from the U.K. Parliament’s upper chamber.
“Her Majesty’s government’s priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families,” Prince Charles said. “Her Majesty’s government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country and support more people into work.”
While the purpose of the near-annual set-piece is to announce planned legislation for the new parliamentary session, Elizabeth’s absence has cast a shadow over Johnson’s plans to revive his administration.
Britain’s 96-year-old monarch has pulled out of several public events in recent months and her absence from the House of Lords on Tuesday is a fresh reminder for Britons that the reign of the country’s longest-ruling monarch won’t last forever. She’d previously skipped the ceremony just twice in her 70 years on the throne - both because of pregnancy.
