Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen Elizabeth II has dropped out of a second event during her Platinum Jubilee. The Queen will not be attending the Epsom Derby on Saturday, June 4 after already having missed the thanksgiving church service at St Paul’s Cathedral the day prior.
Although the Queen is said to be ‘fine’ according to Palace officials, her deteriorating health has sparked concerns as of late. The 96-year-old monarch has been experiencing ‘discomfort’ as well as issues surrounding her mobility. Instead of attending the sporting event, Her Majesty will be watching on television from the comfort of Windsor Castle, the Palace confirms.
The Queen Pulls Out Of ANOTHER Jubilee Event, Will Not Attend Epsom Derby
While the Platinum Jubilee is meant to celebrate the Queen’s unprecedented 70 years on the throne, she has been unable to participate in many of the festivities. She made her Jubilee debut on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch Trooping the Colour on Thursday and was able to lead the lighting of the principal jubilee beacon later that same evening.
The Queen skipped service at St Paul’s the following day, and has now opted out of the Epsom Derby. With a jam-packed weekend full of events in her honor, it is unknown whether or not the Queen will be able to make it to any other events.
At one point during the ongoing Platinum Jubilee, the Duchess of Cambridge reportedly said that the Queen found the day to be ‘very tiring’ which is quite understandable considering her advanced age. According to a source, “[Kate Middleton] said ‘yes, she was fine, it was just very tiring yesterday, and she (the Queen) had had a lovely, lovely time’.
The Palace released a statement on Thursday explaining the monarch’s decision to pull out of her first Jubilee event. “The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s Birthday Parade and Flypast but did experience some discomfort. Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend.”
The Epsom Derby likely holds a special value to the Queen, as she is an avid fan of horses and owns several thoroughbreds of her own. Many believe that she would have taken great pride in watching her horse run during the Platinum Jubilee festivities. While hope remains high that the Queen’s health issues will improve after getting some much needed rest, it remains unclear if she will feel well enough for further appearances during her Platinum Jubilee.
