Oldie of the year? I’m too young, says Queen, 95
SHE has held many titles, and bestowed countless honours on others.
However, the Queen ‘politely but firmly’ turned down an offer to crown her as Oldie of the Year – saying that at 95 she did not feel old enough.
Organisers revealed yesterday she had declined the award, telling them: ‘You are only as old as you feel.’
Author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, chairman of the The Oldie magazine’s awards, said he received a ‘lovely’ letter from Balmoral after he wrote to ask whether the Queen would accept the title. Her assistant private secretary Tom Laing-Baker wrote: ‘Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such the Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient.’
Undeterred, Mr Brandreth told the Oldie of the Year awards lunch: ‘[We] understand completely but we are keeping our powder dry and maybe in a decade or so it might be appropriate to try again.’
He said he had previously approached the late Duke of Edinburgh in 2011 to ask if he would accept the title. Prince Philip, then 90, replied: ‘I much appreciate your invitation to receive an Oldie of the Year award.
‘There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all.’
The Queen, who yesterday was busy hosting a reception at Windsor Castle for the Global Investment Summit, still appears on the cover of the magazine’s November issue. She is Britain’s longest reigning monarch and will celebrate her platinum jubilee next year. She still rides and keeps a busy diary of events. Last week, she used a walking stick for what is believed to be the first time at a major public event.
Her daughter-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall presented the Oldie awards, saying: ‘There are certain disadvantages to growing older.’ But Camilla, 74, added: ‘There are advantages too... enjoying one’s grandchildren [and] having more time to read.’
Oldie award winners included Gigi actress Leslie Caron, 90, footballer Sir Geoff Hurst, 79, TV cook Delia Smith, 80, DJ Bob Harris, 75, and poet Roger McGough, 83.
DISPLAYING unshakeable spirit and mischievous good humour, the Queen has graciously declined the Oldie of the Year trophy. Our 95-year-old monarch insists she considers herself too young for the prize, telling the organisers with customary wisdom: ‘You’re only as old as you feel.’
Even in her seventh decade on the throne and recently widowed, she shows little sign of slowing down. Indeed, she truly is an inspiration to us all.