Queen, 96, will NOT attend Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham next week as Prince Charles and Camilla will represent her instead
- Buckingham Palace has confirmed she will not attend the opening on July 28
- Prince Charles and Camilla take her place in at the ceremony in Birmingham
- It comes after she did not attend a number of engagements in recent months
- The 96-year-old monarch has struggled with ‘mobility problems’ in recent times
The Queen will not attend the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham next week, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
Instead Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will attend the official start of the games her place of Her Majesty, who is patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Head of the Commonwealth.
The decision will be a blow for the long-reigning monarch, who has always held the Commonwealth Games close to her heart and was present the last time they were held in the UK in 2014.
It comes as the 96-year-old has taken a step back from attending some events in an official capacity over the last few months as she deals with ‘mobility issues’.
However she did attend her Platinum Jubilee celebrations at the beginning of June and as recently as this week was still performing her royal duties despite the sweltering heatwave that gripped the country.
The Queen will not be attending the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham at the end of this month, it has been announced. She is pictured here making a speech at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014
Her Majesty has missed only a handful of events related to the games over the last seven decades. Here she is pictured at the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace in October last year
The news will not come as a surprise for organisers, with the Daily Mail reporting last month she was not expected to attend and with plans in place for her eldest son to replace her.
The paper reported Her Majesty was expected to remain in Balmoral, Scotland, for the duration of the games after flying up for her summer break.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will open the games for the third time in Birmingham on July 28, aided by The Earl and Countess of Wessex – Prince Edward is Vice-Patron of the CGF.
Prince Charles previously opened the games in Her Majesty’s place when they were held in India in 2010 and Australia in 2018.
Her Majesty previously opened the games in Canada (1978 and 1994), Scotland (1986 and 2014), England (2002) and Australia (2006).
Her late husband Prince Philip was a firm believer in the games, and opened them in Australia (1962 and 1982), Jamaica (1966), New Zealand (1974), Scotland (1970) and Wales (1958).
This year’s games are set to see a bumper turnout from members of the Royal Family as they are being held on home ground.
The Queen is instead expected the remain at Balmoral where she is scheduled to spend her summer break. Here she is pictured looking out the window of a car as she left Windsor Castle yesterday to make the journey to Scotland
Prince Charles will attend the opening ceremony in Birmingham in place of Her Majesty. Here she is pictured with him as she waves at adoring crowds on The Mall during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June
The likes of Prince William and his wife Kate, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and Princess Anne, will all attend events over the course of the 12 days.
The games, which feature competitors from 72 Commonwealth nations in 20 sports, will draw to an end on Monday, August 8, with Prince Edward delivering a speech at the closing ceremony.
It will be a bitter blow for the Queen to miss this year’s event, having only missed a handful of engagements related to the games over the last seven decades.
Her Majesty is expected to remain in Scotland during the games, where she is scheduled to spend her summer break.
The monarch went up to her official residence in Balmoral yesterday after carrying out her royal duties at Windsor Castle earlier in the week.
Despite the sweltering heat, which saw parts of the country hit with temperatures above 40C, she soldiered on by welcoming new US ambassador Jane Hartley during a virtual audience.
She was seen looking out the window of a car as a police convoy led her vehicle away from Windsor Castle ahead of the flight up to Scotland on Thursday.
Her Majesty usually spends her summer break at the castle, which has been outfitted with a number of adaptations making it more accessible and wheelchair-friendly in recent years.
The castle was bought for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852 for £32,000, and it has been the Scottish home of the royal family since. She usually arrives at the estate in mid-July.
The Queen is known to hold the Commonwealth Games extremely close to her heart. Here she is pictured getting the ribbon entangled in the hair of Debbie Brill of Canada, as she presents her with the gold medal for the High Jump at Meadowbank Stadium, during the British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970
The Queen will be at the estate when the games open on July 28, and it is thought the journey down to Birmingham from the highlands would be too taxing.
The Alexander Stadium ceremony is expected to be watched by 1billion people worldwide.
Despite her mobility problems, she managed to join her three heirs – son, Prince Charles, grandson, Prince William, and great-grandson, Prince George – on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
But she was absent for much of the extended Bank Holiday weekend, after finding the first day enjoyable but tiring, and in a message of thanks acknowledged this but said her ‘heart’ had been with well-wishers.
Which events will the Royals be attending in the Commonwealth Games?
Thursday, July 28
The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, will represent The Queen at the opening ceremony.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex will also attend the ceremony, with Prince Edward being their in his capacity as vice-patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
At the ceremony Prince Charles will give a speech at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, delivering a message from Her Majesty in the process.
Friday, July 29
The Earl and Countess of Wessex will attend a series of sporting events, the details of which will be released in due course.
Anne, the Princess Royal, will visit the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village at Warwick University where she will meet athletes competing in the games.
She will then watch the Rugby Sevens at Coventry Stadium, where she will see the following matches: England vs Samoa; South Africa vs Malaysia; Scotland vs Tonga; and Canada vs Wales.
Saturday, July 30
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will watch cycling at Lee Valley Velopark in London, being in attendance for the 4,000m Individual Support and presenting the winning athletes with their medals.
Monday, August 1
The Earl and Countess of Wessex will return to Birmingham to watch events in the city between Monday and Wednesday.
Further details of the specific events they will attend will be released in due course.
Tuesday, August 2
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with the Earl and Countess of Wessex, will attend the games.
Further details of the specific events they will attend will be released in due course.
Saturday, August 6 – Monday, August 8
The Earl of Wessex will attend a series of fixtures at the Commonwealth Games, as well as meeting and thanking volunteers and support staff involved in running the events.
He will then attend the closing ceremony on Monday, August 8, delivering a speech at the event.
Source: Buckingham Palace
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