Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Russell Myers

Queen's 'increasing pain getting about' behind Commonwealth Day service absence

The Queen has cancelled an appearance at Monday’s annual Commonwealth Day service after suffering problems with her mobility.

The 95-year-old monarch is understood to be experiencing increasing discomfort when it comes to getting about.

Her Majesty will instead be represented by the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace said.

The head of state, who has recently recovered from a bout of Covid, hoped to join Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Commonwealth event. The ­decision is not linked to any illness, but is related to the Queen’s comfort of getting to and from the service.

Prince Charles will attend the service (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Queen has asked the Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty at the Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey.”

The service would have been the Queen’s first major public appearance since reaching her Platinum Jubilee milestone, and the first Commonwealth Day service held in full since 2020.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said she believed the Queen would be “determined” to make the Thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey dedicated to her late husband Prince Philip on March 29.

Prince Philip died in April 2020 (Getty Images)

Ms Seward said: “It would have been a huge wrench to miss the Commonwealth Day service but she is facing a dilemma these days where she must choose her engagements wisely. She will be very determined to make the Duke of Edinburgh’s Thanksgiving service later this month, which will be of incredible importance to her considering his funeral was so scaled back.

“Her Majesty, I believe, is very like her mother, who was reluctant to use a wheelchair, so in her advancing years it’s about projecting herself as much as possible for the big occasions”

The Queen tested positive for Covid on February 20 and Buckingham Palace said at the time she was experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms”.

Last month, she acknowledged her frail condition for the first time during a royal engagement at Windsor Castle.

The Queen told visiting military officials: “As you can see, I can’t move.”

She last met a group of people in public on February 5.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.