The Queen of England will not be present at the ceremonial opening of Parliament on Tuesday, May 10, a development confirmed by representatives of Buckingham Palace reported in the Daily Mail. The royal household stated that the decision comes after careful consultation with medical professionals, reflecting the Queen’s ongoing mobility challenges. The announcement clarified that the Queen’s absence is in line with her doctors’ recommendations, given the need to preserve her health during official duties.
In a statement from the royal residence, it was conveyed that, at His Majesty’s request, a welcoming address would be delivered to Parliament by Charles, Prince of Wales, in place of the Queen’s personal speech. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, is also slated to participate in the opening ceremony, underscoring the line of succession and the continuity of royal participation in state functions.
With the Queen absent, the royal throne in the House of Lords will remain unoccupied, while Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker-Bowles will occupy their customary seats. Despite the Queen’s absence, the Crown of the British Empire, traditionally read aloud by Elizabeth, will still be presented in Parliament in a formal capacity, preserving ceremonial traditions and the symbolism attached to the Crown’s address.
The Queen has missed the Opening of Parliament for the first time in nearly six decades. Historically, there have been occasions when health or other duties led to the royal family adjusting attendance at major state events. Notably, in 1959 and 1963, the Queen did not attend due to pregnancy, making this absence a rare interruption in a long-standing pattern of participation in the opening ceremony.
In recent years, parliamentary openings were disrupted by public health concerns, including the global response to the coronavirus outbreak, which led to the cancellation of such ceremonies in 2020 and 2021. These interruptions illustrate how external events can influence long-standing ceremonial schedules and the way state institutions observe tradition while adapting to modern circumstances.
Looking back at the history surrounding the opening ceremony, Elizabeth, the Queen, has occasionally adjusted ceremonial practices in response to health or security considerations. On one notable occasion in 2019, for example, the Queen chose to forego the traditional heavy crown in favor of a lighter ceremonial version, reflecting a careful balance between pageantry and practical requirements. This demonstrates how the monarchy continually navigates the tension between tradition, health considerations, and the evolving expectations of the public.