By Prince Charles to deliver Queen’s speech after monarch pulls out
This year Prince Charles will deliver the Queen’s speech on her behalf for the first time after the monarch pulled out of the event.
The Prince of Wales will be joined by the Duke of Cambridge to open parliament after the queen granted special permission.
This is the first time since 1963 that the Queen will not carry out her historic speech to open parliament.
A new Letters Patent was issued by the 96-year-old monarch on Monday, delegating the opening of parliament to the Counsellors of State.
This is the category of royal that includes the next four people in the line of succession who are over the age of 21.
Buckingham Palace said on Monday that the decision to pull out had been taken in consultation with the Queen’s doctors, as she continues to experience “episodic mobility problems”.
The Palace said in a statement: “At Her Majesty’s request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of Wales will read The Queen’s Speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also in attendance.”
The Queen’s main throne will remain empty in the House of Lords.
