My theory about Queen Elizabeth’s absence through much of her Jubbly celebrations is that she was always going to back out of almost everything. As soon as they got her out on the balcony for Trooping the Colour, her aides felt like they had accomplished the impossible and anything else would be “gravy.” Those were the same aides who refused to tell the Queen that she should make use of a wheelchair or walker, likely because of the Queen’s own ableism (and their own). So what we got was a Queen who refused to make any appearances simply because of her mobility issues. That’s the official story too.
“The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s Birthday Parade and Flypast but did experience some discomfort,” a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
Her own high expectations for herself are a factor in keeping the Queen from taking part, says royal historian Robert Lacey in this week’s issue of PEOPLE: “She would not want to stumble — not for her own sake but for the distress it would cause other people.”
A source told PEOPLE that the Queen’s episodic mobility issues flared during the course of the day on Thursday. She was pictured using her cane on the palace balcony as she took the salute and viewed the flypast alongside members of the royal family.
Kate Middleton gave a health update on the Queen on Friday. During a reception held at Guildhall by the former Lord Mayor, the Duchess of Cambridge, 40, told an attendee that the Queen was “fine” after a long day of Trooping the Colour.
“Yes, she [the Queen] was fine, it was just very tiring yesterday,” Kate said, according to PA, adding that the monarch “had had a lovely, lovely time.”
I read this transcribed discussion between Clive Irving and Tom Sykes on the Daily Beast, and they spoke about this too, how the Queen’s absence from almost all of the Jubbly celebrations meant that she was likely in physical agony, given the Brits’ penchant for understatement. I think it was less about the Queen not wanting people to “see her stumble” and more about her just general unwellness, her refusal to use a wheelchair and her refusal to do whatever her courtiers want her to do.
Incidentally, in that Daily Beast piece, Sykes and Irving theorized that now that the Jubbly is over, “abdication, or something very like it, can’t be too far off.”
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar.
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- North America Rights Only, London, England – 20220602- Day One Of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service. -PICTURED: Queen Elizabeth and Michael Duke of Kent -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com -67243968 Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
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- NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE UK – London, UK -20220602-Royal Family On Balcony During Platinum Jubilee Trooping The Colour Parade -PICTURED: Queen Elizabeth, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William -PHOTO by: John Rainford/Cover Images/INSTARimages.com -INSTAR_i9jXvKMe8.jpg This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
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- Queen Elizabeth II, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the fly past after Trooping The Colour – The Queen’s Birthday Parade, London, UK – 02 Jun 2022,Image: 696416604, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Copyright Paul Grover, Model Release: no, Credit line: Paul Grover / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the fly past after Trooping The Colour – The Queen’s Birthday Parade, London, UK – 02 Jun 2022,Image: 696416836, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Copyright Paul Grover, Model Release: no, Credit line: Paul Grover / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the fly past after Trooping The Colour – The Queen’s Birthday Parade, London, UK – 02 Jun 2022,Image: 696417262, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II symbolically leads the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon at Windsor Castle, as part of a chain of more than 3,500 flaming tributes to her 70-year-reign, on day one of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Over 3,000 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, and each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries are lighting beacons to mark the Jubilee.,Image: 696553762, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Steve Parsons / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II symbolically leads the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon at Windsor Castle, as part of a chain of more than 3,500 flaming tributes to her 70-year-reign, on day one of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Over 3,000 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, and each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries are lighting beacons to mark the Jubilee.,Image: 696553816, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Steve Parsons / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II arrives to symbolically lead the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon at Windsor Castle, as part of a chain of more than 3,500 flaming tributes to her 70-year-reign, on day one of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Over 3,000 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, and each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries are lighting beacons to mark the Jubilee.,Image: 696553843, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Steve Parsons / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William , Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge,, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at the end of the Pageant on the final day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London.,Image: 697182635, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stephen Lock / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, after the Platinum Pageant on June 05, 2022 in London, England.,Image: 697224208, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Anthony Harvey / Avalon
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- Buckingham Palace, London, UK. 5 June 2022. Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at the end of a spectacular Platinum Jubilee Pageant on The Mall,Image: 697322082, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: MALCOLM PARK / Avalon
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- North America Rights Only, London, England – 20220602- Day One Of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service. -PICTURED: Queen Elizabeth -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com -67243553 Disclaimer: This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishing
Slightly off topic but it will never not be funny to me that she’s still ‘Kate Middleton’ even to lackeys
Shows exactly what they really think about her.
She was introduced to the world as Kate Middleton so I can’t see a problem with it (it’s much nicer than “Waity Katie). I think this is something her Comms team should take up with the tabloid press who very rarely (if ever) call her Catherine.
However, Diana was (and still is) affectionately referred to as Lady Di., so I wouldn’t hold your breath in getting the British public to stop calling her Kate Middleton any time soon.
PS: Didn’t William recently say they wanted to be known as Wills and Kate?
Ooooh, I don’t give any sort of a hoot what she’s called anywhere.
When they got hitched he said he wanted her to be called Catherine. No idea if that changed recently but it sure hasn’t stuck in the ten years prior.
So these royal “experts” haven’t figured out that the Queen isn’t going to abdicate? PC will likely be doing the majority of the official work. If she makes it a couple of more years, she will beat out Louis XIV’s reign of 72 years and 110 days. And, I guess, it’s fine for Kate to provide “updates” on the Queen, but not for her own grandson to talk about her.
The Queen will never abdicate.
Did Queen liz’s father abdicate? I’m not sure that he did and he was very ill wasn’t he? If he did not, I don’t see Liz going that route. Hook or crook, she will not abdicate.
Her uncle abdicated, then lived in exile in France for several decades, dying in older age. Her father (his brother) became king and subsequently died young, supposedly due to the stress of unexpectedly becoming the monarch. That’s why people speculate that she’ll never abdicate, because of the stress and rupture the first abdication caused her family. Obvi today’s circumstances are quite different: she’s frail and has an heir more than ready to go. But that’s still been the conventional wisdom up to now.
I think she will not abdicate. She will have this legacy of devotion for her country until the end, as she promised on her speech when she became queen.
Her dad died on the throne (actually in his bed) which is what she has repeatedly said she would do. Her grandfather was put down by his doctors with an overdose of morphine so news of his death would make the evening papers.
whether she’s having pain or just simply very frail is hard to say. I suspect it’s more the latter, and that even limited activity is very taxing for her.
The Queen’s father was a very heavy smoker which caused his cancer. Princess Margaret also was a heavy smoker and she passed on at a relatively young age.
Probably why we won’t see photos of the Queen and her Sussex great grandchildren. She was probably exhausted, probably in pain, we know she doesn’t like to be seen as infirm. Are there private photos? There must be. This was the last opportunity to do so.
Abdication?! THAT would be shocking.
She doesn’t want to literally put a foot wrong. Especially not in front of Kate.
Hahahaha Perfect!!
I’ve always thought she will announce her “retirement”after the Jubbly. Whether Charles will actually get to put on the crown is another matter. But I think Philip set the role model when he announced his retirement so I think she will do the same. I could see her making the announcement July 1 after Baldemort has his 40th shabang.
She looked awful, on the last day of the jubbly. I don’t think she will last 2 more years. With the fk, and ffk rushing her out, anytime now, as they are impatient. Like I said before, charlie had better watch his back. The lamebridges have no intentions of waiting long for their turn. Blowing silly kisses at kate, indeed
Yeah I think if she missed the service of thanksgiving she must have been in a lot of pain, not just “experiencing some discomfort.”
they must have REALLY wanted a do-over of the balcony photos to have brought her back to BP on Sunday, lol.
She skipped the church service because the entrance to St. Pauls is basically a series of stairs.
She has very old fashioned ideas about the image she needs to project. This is the same woman who refused to wear a mask in public during the height of covid. It shouldn’t surprise anyone she doesn’t want to be seen using mobility aids.
If she can’t execute her “duties” she should step aside.
I agree. She couldn’t make the Opening of Parliament, one of her most important jobs, just because she didn’t want to be seen in a motorized wheelchair. People would understand about the mobility issues and at her age, no one would begrudge her using one. Is it vanity or not wanting to let go of her role?
I am actually glad that The Queen is choosing what she wants to do. She isn’t a child that needs to be told by anyone that works for her. I believe that she is likely in pain often.
The Jubilee was her grand sendoff in a way. I’m glad that she got to see the response of the people. Too many people today aren’t lauded until they are dead.
Cosigned.
I don’t think it’s just getting around but also a lot of sitting and standing that wears her out. In the middle of say an hour event she may have the need to lie down or take a nap. I think that’s what she and staff are worried about.
They couldn’t get her a jazzed up scooter? My grandpa has a pretty nifty one and he enjoys the independence it gives him.
I don’t think she’s worried about being seen to stumble, she’s worried about the actual stumbling. I watched her walk out to push that button to start the lighting display–and I still can’t believe they made her do that after such a long day–and her feet barely left the ground as she took some very short steps to get where she was going. If she fell on that, red carpet or no, she’s falling onto stone & that’s going to hurt. As in, broken bone pain. Everything they wanted her to attend was held in some extremely old historic venue made of stone & any stumble would have meant landing on stone. So no, she’s safer restricting her movements.
This is what I think too. She might be ableist, or she just literally might not be steady on her feet or even seated sometimes anymore. Old age can be an absolute beast.
“I don’t think she’s worried about being seen to stumble, she’s worried about the actual stumbling.” Exactly! People who’ve suffered debilitating back pain understand that rehab consists of switching between walking, sitting, lying prone and doing back strengthening exercises. Whenever I sit too long I get swollen ankles and can barely move initially. She’s got 20+ years on me so it’s probly worse for her. Plus she had COVID! The most notorious disease ever at having such a wide range of symptoms (loss of smell, impotence, endless fatigue, nausea, cytokine storm). Fully vaccinated people who got COVID from their classrooms tell me it took a month for them to get back to health. QEII would get the best health care, but even with the best antiviral treatment, there’s only 89% reduction in hospitalization rate. I think of all the old people I know who broke their hips in a fall – invariably they suffered a rapid decline then died.
If she doesn’t want a scooter or wheelchair, they should fashion a litter bed or hackney chair to carry her. All the idiots who’ve screamed about Harry or Meghan DISRESPECTING THE QUEEN should be immediately drafted as porters to carry her around.
I watched the second balcony do over a lot.
And she was in some kind of chair right before the doors opened. She went from a sitting position to stooping to standing.
Also watch W, as he was walking through the door he made a shooing action with his hand about 4 times to Kate who was trying to get ahead of him. Then he planted himself.
Not really the topic of this article, but I freaking LOVE these pictures of Louis, lol!! Wasn’t the British media recently farting out all of these articles about how Kate and William’s children are the most perfect, well-mannered little angels ever to pop out of a royal vagina? And how Archie was destined to grow up a “spoiled brat”, having been taught no manners by his “woke” parents? Yeah, not so much lol!
What I find the most interesting is that after H&M met privately with TQ before the IG, TQ suddenly started being seen more. I don’t know what happened there, but I wonder if she decided to do what SHE wanted to do and/or needed to do and no more than that. I certainly think a 96 year old gets tired easily and it appears she has some mobility issues, but I just think she’s doing whatever she wants to do. We’ve seen her smile a lot recently, where before she was serious all of time. It’s funny that she was pretty much never seen (except for zooming) and suddenly she was. I wonder what H&M said to her? Maybe something along the lines of, you’ve done your duty why don’t you just be you and do what you want. I expect that after the Jubilee we’ll see her continuing to do the things she wants to do and smiling while doing it.
Or, I might be completely wrong.
I think that she has fallen in the recent past , fears that she will fall again and is determined not to do it in public. That would be too humiliating for her to accept. At her age, whatever she wants.
My cat was 18 recently, and that’s been my attitude towards him since. Whatever he wants, whenever he wants it.