The Queen has been forced to pull out of another event due to her ongoing mobility issues. This time, she will miss the first day of the Royal Ascot, Britain’s most popular horse racing event. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles will instead be seated in the first carriage to lead the royal procession, along with Peter Phillips. Her Majesty’s absence at the Royal Ascot marks the latest affair that she has regrettably missed, after having to cancel appearances at several events during her Platinum Jubilee celebration marking her seventy years on the throne.
The Queen is an avid fan of horses and is also a seasoned breeder, so being unable to attend the Royal Ascot must have been a tough call for the aging royal. Up until now the Queen has attended all royal meetings since 1952, but her limited mobility and declining health have played a major role in her recent absence. Dropping out of events at the last minute has become the new normal for the 96-year-old monarch, as she notably could not attend the Derby race at Epsom as well as the thanksgiving service at St Paul’s during her Platinum Jubilee.
The Queen Pulls Out Of Royal Ascot Due To Ongoing Mobility Issues, Prince Charles and Camilla To Take Her Place
As the Queen’s age is nearing a century, she has to be careful about conserving her energy. There have been so many royal events in recent weeks that attending all of them would be too much for her to handle at this stage in her life. The most recent occasion that the Queen had celebrated was the Order of the Garter. While Her Majesty did not attend the rest of the royal family for the public event, she was present during a private meeting and lunch from the confines of the Garter Throne Room at Windsor Castle.
The Queen’s own horse, King’s Lynn, is set to race in the King’s Stand Stakes at the Royal Ascot. While Queen Elizabeth II may not be at the race, she will still be watching the televised broadcast from the comfort of Windsor Castle. Following what should have been the Queen in the front carriage at Royal Ascot, the second carriage at the event will hold The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, while the third carriage will consist of Princess Anne, Lord de Mauley and William Nunneley with his wife Caroline. The fourth carriage will have the Earl and Countess of Hopetoun as well as Tom Hooper and Lady Alexandra Hooper.
