Elizabeth II feels young in her head. The sovereign, who has been in the throne for over 70 years, has refused the magazine’s “Oldie of the Year” award The Oldie. As reported by AFP, the editorial staff indicated that the Queen of England responded unfavorably to their request, explaining that she “don’t think you meet the criteria to accept” this honor, reserved for the elderly. The British magazine, which sees itself as an alternative “light” to a press “obsessed with youth and fame”, revealed to have offered to Buckingham Palace to present his prize to the grandmother of Prince Harry and Prince William.
This Tuesday, The Oldie published the refusal letter sent on August 21 from the Scottish castle of Balmoral, where the queen spends the summer ends, and signed by her deputy private secretary Tom Laing-Baker. “Her Majesty thinks that you are of the age you feel and therefore does not think you meet the criteria to accept”, is it indicated.
After having spent successive confinements at Windsor Castle near London and despite speculation about a withdrawal after the death in April of her husband Prince Philip, Elizabeth II has recently participated in many public engagements. Last week she was seen walking in public with a cane, a first since 2004.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April at the age of 99, received the “Oldie of the Year” award in 2011 on the occasion of his 90th birthday. The Queen’s late husband had taken this as a joke. Humorously, he said in a thank-you letter: “There’s nothing better for morale than being reminded that the years go by and the old carcass begins to fall apart. But it’s already nice to be remembered ”.