Queen Elizabeth has been in Scotland for weeks on her annual summer holiday. She usually stays in Balmoral through September, but this year it’s a bit different. Because of the Queen’s ongoing mobility and health issues, she’s already canceled one public appearance. If my records are correct, I don’t think she’s been seen in person since July 15 at any kind of event. Of course, we’ve gotten gloom and doom about the Queen’s health before, and then she turns up at events with a cane and a smile. So I don’t even know anymore. In any case, it seems that there are some concerns about whether the Queen will be able to travel to London in a few weeks to greet the new prime minister.
Sources close to Queen Elizabeth II this week told The Daily Beast that, in a few weeks’ time, she intends to break her summer sojourn at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and travel down to London to perform one of her most important constitutional duties; inviting a new prime minister to form a government in her name.
A source told The Daily Beast, “It is expected she will interrupt her Balmoral break to return to London for the PM switch.” The source said that the “actual venue” would be confirmed nearer the time, in an attempt to leave some margin for error, but the reality is that now, if the 96-year-old queen does not make the long journey to London for the richly symbolic occasion on Tuesday, Sept. 6, disappointment and renewed speculation about her officially professed wellness will ensue.
The need for the queen to welcome a new PM has been occasioned by Britain’s ruling Conservative party ejecting Boris Johnson as its leader. Under Britain’s parliamentary system, the new party leader (probably the right-leaning Liz Truss) will become the new PM, and that new PM has to then be invited to form a government by the queen. And certainly, there is no denying that if it all works out, the resulting photo-op will be an impressive rejoinder to those who say the queen is too old and too frail to carry out her job and should step down.
Photographs of the ancient ritual…are usually disseminated to the press. The crowning of the last PM but one, Theresa May, was the subject of particular debate after the new leader was pictured genuflecting in front of the queen. So the reward, if it works out, wil be another fabulous ta-da moment for the queen, after the impressive double ta-da of the Jubilee, in which HM’s two balcony appearances, resplendent in mauve and green respectively, were the stuff of which the greatest theatrical minds could only dream of.
Some observers are now questioning whether it is really the wisest thing for HM to have set a very public tick-tock in motion by saying she will host the high profile ceremony in London rather than, for example, either doing it by video link, requesting the new PM come to Balmoral, or sending Charles in her place as she did to this year’s formal state opening of Parliament.
I am once again asking the Queen’s aides to figure out some f–king way to make it easier for a 96-year-old woman to simply exist and get around. It should not be this difficult to make some subtle changes here and there! There is no reason for the Queen to schlep down to London just so the new prime minister can symbolically kiss the ring or whatever. Liz Truss can fly to Scotland and they can do this musty ceremony there. And let me tell you: the Queen won’t give this task to Prince Charles. She didn’t want to open Parliament this year, okay, fine, she sent Charles, William and Rose Hanbury’s husband. But the whole “forming a government in her name” thing has to be done by the Queen.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar.
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- North America Rights Only – Windsor, UK -20220622- Queen Elizabeth II receiving the Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley (right), during an audience at Windsor Castle. -PICTURED: Queen Elizabeth II, New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley -PHOTO by: Andrew Matthews/PA Images/INSTARimages.com 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 -20220605- The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Final Day -PICTURED: Queen Elizabeth II -PHOTO by: John Rainford/Cover Images/INSTARimages.com -51635815.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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- 11/06/2021. London, United Kingdom. Prime Minister Boris Johnson G7 Summit Day One . HM Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joins the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie for the G7 leaders summit reception & dinner at the Eden Project as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs the G7 Leaders Summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall. .,Image: 615377261, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This image is for Editorial use purposes only. The Image can not be used for advertising or commercial use. The Image can not be altered in any form., Model Release: no, Credit line: Andrew Parsons / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II attending the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland (also known as the Royal Company of Archers) Reddendo Parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. Picture date: Thursday June 30, 2022.,Image: 704275652, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- The Duke of Buccleuch and Queen Elizabeth II attending the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland (also known as the Royal Company of Archers) Reddendo Parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. Picture date: Thursday June 30, 2022.,Image: 704275771, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II with Jonathan Jones, Chair of Trustees, during a visit to officially open the new building at Thames Hospice, Maidenhead, Berkshire. Picture date: Friday July 15, 2022.,Image: 707551788, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to officially open the new building at Thames Hospice, Maidenhead, Berkshire. Picture date: Friday July 15, 2022.,Image: 707551923, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Not Available For Publication In The UK – London, UK -20220605- The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Final Day -PICTURED: Queen Elizabeth II -PHOTO by: John Rainford/Cover Images/INSTARimages.com -51635817.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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- North America Rights Only – Edinburgh, UK -20220628- Queen Elizabeth II attends an armed forces act of loyalty parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, as they mark her platinum jubilee in Scotland. The ceremony is part of the Queen’s traditional trip to Scotland for Holyrood Week. -PICTURED: Queen Elizabeth II -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com 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
My God, that first pic of her in the yellow dress drives home the fact she is old. For the love of all that is good, have some dignity Liz and pass the reigns to Chuck. You had your time.
What would be awesome would be a surprise twist of abolishing the monarchy in her will and that is why she has death’s grip on the orb and scepter- pun intended.
It just feels so undignified. She and/or her courtiers are trying to prove a point but it just looks so sad.
Sad is a very good word for it but I don’t feel any sympathy for her.
She still needs a little under 2 years to pass Louis XIV’s length of reign. That’s likely what the goal is.
I don’t think she’s going to pass the reins to Chuck until she dies. Clive Irving (the only Daily Beast journo writing about royals worth reading) did a pretty good job of explaining why in his 7/8/22 article “The One Thing the Queen and Boris Johnson Have in Common.”
I hope she can make the trip. This new PM is likely to be the last one ever to be officially welcomed by this Queen. End of an era.
I really wish it could be fitting that she’s welcoming (what is likely to be) our second female leader but it seems that Truss is set to give Maggie a run for her money in general awfulness and ‘it’s your fault if you’re poor’ tory policies. We in trouble.
Third female leader – Thatcher, May, now possibly Truss.
Telling that Theresa May was only our second female PM and as recently as five years ago and already people are forgetting her existence.
And, frankly, at the rate the Tory party are burning through leaders, this might not be the Queen’s last PM…..
OMG I forgot May! I’m going to blame the heatwave and the fact that we’ve had what feels like 47 prime ministers and 79 elections since the tories took power.
Couldn’t care less 🤢
Same. Not anymore and never again.
ta-da moment hahaha!
Good Lord, who on earth is writing this tripe:
“So the reward, if it works out, wil be another fabulous ta-da moment for the queen, after the impressive double ta-da of the Jubilee, in which HM’s two balcony appearances, resplendent in mauve and green respectively, were the stuff of which the greatest theatrical minds could only dream of.”
The greatest theatrical minds could only dream of? She stood on a balcony. That’s it, that’s all. She didn’t fly a plane herself, she didn’t ride a horse. Good God this sycophancy is sickening. I ignore them a lot of the time but it’s so unnecessarily over the top.
It will happen.
The thing is this is a complete non-story. The Queen may or may not meet the new PM, she may or may not deputise Charles, she may or may not dance the can-can whilst playing the harmonica to prove how fit she is but, whatever she does or doesn’t do, she will still be Queen. The woman is not giving up the throne until she dies – she has sworn to that fact and there are no performance indicators she has to hit to stay in post – other than to keep breathing.
That there are no performance indicators is the key flaw of a monarchy.
They are so tone deaf with the reality of normal life and proper governance of this country.Today Sky news had a headline ‘Economy shrinks- with Jubilee partly to blame’.
Apparently we’re about to go into a recession and a contributing factor is all those wasted non working days in June (and presumably the cost of all that nonsense’).
If LT does become the next PM she wants to put the commissioning of a new royal yacht high on the agenda, she’ll consider it an honour to schlep up to Balmoral , genuflect and kiss hands.
The BBC helpfully pointed out that it was ‘only’ 0.6% of GDP when it was predicted at 1.3%. I love their version of impartiality.
So she still had a negative impact on the economy but not as many people cared / could afford time off as was expected?
“ancient ritual” 🙄
The UK* has only had an elected prime minister since 1720.
Yeah, this is like when Star Trek pulls up some obscure bit of ‘ancient’ Earth history from the 20th century. 300 years old may be ancient but 300 years ago is not Antiquity.
I agree this is one job she’ll want to keep doing in person, but surely the PM can fly to her? I’ve heard that Liz Truss fancies herself as the second coming of the iron lady, so maybe QEII can give her some variation of the old “You, madam, are no Margaret Thatcher.”
Speculating about the new PM is well and good, but what I really want to know is: Who will be on Boris’s honours recommendations list? He still gets to do that, right?
I hope whoever organizes this event will use common sense and let the PM go to TQ in Scotland instead of making this senior citizen come back to London for only this.
On a shallow note: I really like her purple dress. I wasn’t really paying attention to what she was wearing during the Jubbly but this is nice and looks good on her.
“……..were the stuff of which the greatest theatrical minds could only dream of.”
I can feel Shakespeare’s self loathing, from here, that he had a mind not rich enough to imagine the Great Jubbly of 2022.
Man, Shakespeare would have had indoor fireworks that would bring the house down.