It is a very noticeable absence. And just as remarkable. Once is not custom, Queen Elizabeth II will not participate in the opening of the session of Parliament this Tuesday, May 10, 2022. On Monday, she announced on Monday evening that she would be replaced by her son Prince Charles for the traditional Speech from the Throne.
If the Queen of England systematically delivers the traditional Speech from the Throne – the government’s program at a ceremony with great fanfare -, it is therefore the first time that she has missed this event in 59 years. Since the beginning of her reign, she has only missed this appointment twice: in 1959 and in 1963, when she was then pregnant.
>> United Kingdom: the absence of Queen Elizabeth for the throne speech marks “a kind of regency of the kingdom”, according to a royal biographer
In a statement, Buckingham Palace thus states that “The Queen continues to have episodic mobility issues and, after consultation with her doctors, has reluctantly decided not to take part in the Speech from the Throne“. And it is therefore clear that it is the 96-year-old queen herself who made this decision. It is therefore Charles, her eldest son and designated successor, who will read the speech before the parliamentarians: it is the first time that she has been replaced by the Prince of Wales.Another symbol: at her side, there will be her son, Prince William, also called to reign one day.
Quickly, the British press was moved by this situation, speaking of a passing of the baton, even a form of regency. The daily Metro title “Hand over the reins“, with in one, a large photo of Elizabeth II and right next to it, smaller, Prince Charles.
GET A FINE? WE WILL RESIGN
Both Starmer and Rayner gamble on ‘Beergate’ probe #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/KgDNAk3pPt
— Metro (@MetroUK) May 9, 2022
the Timeshim, soberly titled the queen will miss the opening of parliament, slipping that he “This is an unprecedented event in recent history, representing a significant change for Charles’ responsibilities as heir to the throne“. An observation shared by the Daily Telegraph.
The Queen is said to have a busy diary at Windsor this week with a call with Australia undertaken today, a planned video meeting of the Privy Council and a phone audience with the prime minister on Wed.
She is expected to undertake some private engagements later in the week pic.twitter.com/oeNtqryMbI
— The Times (@thetimes) May 9, 2022
The tone is much less diplomatic among the tabloids. When the DailyMail the question clearly arisesIs this the beginning of a regency for Charles?“, The Sun title him”Crown… and out“, pun between “remove his crown” and the phrase “saturate“.
ROBERT HARDMAN: The Queen is still very much in charge – but, make no mistake, this is a historic moment for the Crown https://t.co/OgF0larS6N
— Daily Mail UK (@DailyMailUK) May 10, 2022
It must be said that the last public appearance of Elizabeth II dates back to last march 29. A religious service in homage to her husband, the Prince Phillip, disappeared last year. She then moved around on the arm of one of her children or with the help of a cane. The monarch had herself confided in mid-February that she “couldn’t move“, showing his left leg during a hearing in Windsor.
Since a brief hospitalization in October, Elizabeth II’s appearances have become exceedingly rare, although she continues to take on “light tasks” at Windsor Castle, mostly by videoconference.
What reinforce the concern of the subjects of his Majesty: in less than a month, on June 2, it is the celebrations of the platinum jubilee, his 70 years of reign. Four days of historic celebrations across the country… and, therefore, the risk of not seeing Elizabeth II and her colorful hats.
According to the latest information, everything will be decided at the last moment. We already know that if she makes an appearance, it will be brief and from a quiet place. For the time being, she is expected on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, in the heart of London, surrounded by part of her family, during the parade in her honor. Tens of thousands of viewers and tens of millions on television around the world will want to catch a glimpse of her frail figure.
It must be said that a large majority of the British have only ever known her as a monarch. And her ubiquitous presence only reinforces this aura: her face is on banknotes, stamps, the British are used to seeing her everywhere, all the time. Meeting heads of state, inaugurating a factory, decorating personalities… And that’s been going on for 70 years.