PACKED SCHEDULE AT 95

For a woman of 95, the Monarch faces a packed diary of engagements over the next year, including:

November 1: COP26 UN climate change conference, Glasgow, alongside Prince Charles and Prince William. Visit is said to be hanging in the balance. November 14: Remembrance Sunday.

She no longer lays a wreath at the Cenotaph but watches from a balcony.

December 20 to mid-February, 2022: Christmas and new year break at Sandringham. Meets public on visit to church on Christmas morning, and entertains family and visitors during her stay in Norfolk.

April 14: Maundy Thursday church service. Queen distributes special Maundy money to pensioners. May: State Opening of Parliament. Also expected to accept a gift from Parliamentarians, possibly a commemorative lamp-post, to mark 70-year reign. June 2: Trooping The Colour to mark her birthday.

She has missed it only once, in 1955, when it was cancelled because of a rail strike. This year it was scaled back and held at Windsor.

June 2-5: Platinum Jubilee weekend, including a Buckingham Palace concert, service at St Paul’s Cathedral, pageant and street parties.

June: Annual meeting of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest British order of chivalry.

Hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle.

June: Royal Ascot, said to be her favourite event of the year. She missed 2020’s meeting because of Covid, her first absence in 68 years, but went this year.

August: Garden parties. Traditionally she hosts three at Buckingham Palace and one at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. 2021’s parties were cancelled. September 3: Braemar Gathering. Highland

Games coincides with her summer break at nearby Balmoral.