Family step in again for off-colour Queen
The Queen is expected to miss another significant public occasion with plans being drawn up for members of the royal family to replace her at Trooping the Colour for the first time in her 70-year reign.
Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne are set to take the royal salute during the military display at Horse Guards Parade, another sign of the sovereign delegating more duties. It is hoped the Queen, 96, who is experiencing “episodic mobility problems”, will attend part of the ceremony, which is being modified with her comfort in mind, on June 2. As well as marking her official birthday, the parade will kick off four days of national celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee.
This month, Charles and William have already stood in for her at the state opening of parliament earlier this month, the first time she had missed the event in 59 years.
One plan would see the Queen, the head of the armed forces, travel in a carriage from Buckingham Palace to briefly inspect the troops, before retiring for the rest of the ceremony, with Charles, William and Anne on horseback representing her at the parade ground.
It is hoped the monarch would then later reappear at the palace for the traditional balcony moment with members of the royal family.
In another plan under consideration, the Queen will have even less involvement, appearing only on the balcony at the ceremony’s conclusion. It is understood that whichever plan the Queen decides on, she will not be present for most of the parade.