Buckingham Palace has announced that The Queen has pulled out of this year’s State Opening of Parliament and the reading of the Queen’s speech.
This will be the first time since 1963 that the Queen will have missed this constitutional ceremony, which sets out the government’s legislative plans.
Prince Charles will deliver the speech on Tuesday for the Queen.
The State Opening of Parliament marks the start of the parliamentary year, with the Queen’s speech setting out the agenda of the government and the laws that it wants to introduce.
The 96-year-old monarch has mobility problems and has had to cancel a number of recent public appearances.
The Queen’s absence follows her missing events at Easter, including the Maundy Service, and the announcement that she would not host royal garden parties this year.
The thanksgiving service for Prince Philip in March has been the only public event outside of royal residences that she has attended so far this year.
