Queen Elizabeth in her Diamond Diadem.Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/Getty
With just one day until the State Opening of Parliament, the question remains: WillQueen Elizabethattend or miss it for just the third time during her reign?
Traditionally, the Queen officially opens Parliament at an event that unites the three elements of the U.K. legislature: the House of Lords, the House of Commons and the monarchy. After arriving in a State coach, the Queen gives a speech and often wears ceremonial robes and the3-lb. Imperial State Crown, although in recent years she’s opted for a lighterdiademor one of hersignature wide-brimmed hats.
However, the Queen, 96, has missed many important events in recent months due tohealth setbacksandmobility issues.
Queen Elizabeth during the 1967 State Opening of Parliament wearing the dress that Beatrice would later wear to her own wedding.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
The Queen has previously missed the State Opening of Parliament on just two occasions during her 70-year reign: in 1959 while she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and in 1963 while pregnant with Prince Edward.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty
Despite being absent from a number of recent events, including theMaundy Service ahead of EasterandRemembrance Dayback in November, the monarch stepped out on March 29 toattend a Service of Thanksgiving honoring Prince Philip. She used a cane to help her walk, a common fixture since October.
The Queen also traveled from Windsor Castle to her Sandringham estate last month to mark her 96th birthday.
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In addition to holding virtual audiences, the Queen had herfirst in-person engagementsince returning to Windsor Castle from her birthday trip when she welcomed Switzerland’s President Ignazio Cassis and his wife Paola Cassis.
source: people.com
