The palace declined to give details of Elizabeth’s ailment, but a source said her decision to pull out of the opening of parliament, which was only made on Monday, was related to the problems she had suffered last year.
Last week it was announced she would not attend the traditional summer garden parties at Buckingham Palace, but the palace source said she would have her regular audiences with the Privy Council and Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday, virtually and by phone. The state opening of parliament is an event of huge pomp and pageantry which traditionally sees the queen travelling to the assembly in a state coach, escorted by mounted soldiers in ceremonial uniform, while the imperial state crown and other regalia travel ahead in a carriage of their own.
She has missed the occasion twice during her 70-year reign — in 1959, and 1963, when she was pregnant with sons Andrew and Edward. Prince Charles has attended the opening before, but it is the first time that William, also destined to be a future king, will be officially involved.
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