Queen won’t attend any of the Buckingham Palace garden parties this year with other royals stepping in to replace her
THE Queen will not be attending any of the garden parties this year, Buckingham Palace has announced.
No reason has yet been given as to why Her Majesty won't greet guests at events in May and June, although she has recently had issues with her mobility.
Four parties will take place in the coming weeks. The format of the events means that the Queen would have had to stand for more than an hour and move down the lines greeting visitors.
A statement released this morning reads: "Her Majesty The Queen will be represented by other members of the Royal Family at this year’s Garden Parties, with details on attendance to be confirmed in due course.
"The Queen has given permission for the Not Forgotten Association Annual Garden Party to be hosted by the Princess Royal, as the charity’s patron, in the Buckingham Palace Garden on Thursday, May 12."
The Not Forgotten Association provides entertainment, leisure and recreation for the serving wounded, injured or sick and for ex-service men and women with disabilities.
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The monarch welcomes more than 30,000 guests to the palaces over the course of each year.
The parties are seen as an important way for her to meet people from across the country who have made a positive impact in their communities.
The events were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the pandemic.
However, it was announced they'll make a return this year for the Jubilee.
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It was last month claimed that the public must assume the Queen will not attend future events until confirmed by the Palace on the day.
Her Majesty's presence at public engagements will be a bonus but not guaranteed under alleged new Palace plans following several health scares, including a brush with Covid, it's understood.
The monarch has pulled out of several recent engagements at the last minute due to ongoing mobility issues, and it's understood aides are “pacing” her ahead of June’s Platinum celebrations.
Public events will take place throughout the year to honour the Queen's decades-long reign — including a long four-day weekend in early June.
The Queen missed the Easter Sunday service in Windsor, despite usually making an appearance, and didn't attend the Commonwealth Day ceremony due to concerns about her “comfort”.
She has been seen using a walking stick over the past six months and in February told a visitor at Windsor Castle: “As you can see, I can’t move.”
However, in late March she walked unaided at a memorial service to her late husband Prince Philip.
Cheeringly, she also appeared to be refreshed and walking aid-free when she returned from a week-long birthday break in Sandringham.
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The 96-year-old looked well and happy when she was pictured last week.
And she has received a £62,000 golf buggy to help her get around and fulfil future engagements, while a wheelchair-friendly lift was fitted at her favourite Highlands cottage.
