Buckingham Palace
Concerns about the Queen’s health – how the Palace now wants to make life easier for Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, here in August during a stay in Scotland: In future, appointments and related trips should be decided based on how she feels.
© Jane Barlow / Picture Alliance
The Queen should rest for at least two weeks and only do light work at the desk, say her doctors. Now the courtiers are working on a “cautious” way to spare the monarch more in the future.
Given the growing concern for the health of Queen Elizabeth II, the focus is now on the Queen’s busy schedule. The courtiers had been instructed to check the agenda carefully until Christmas and afterwards, reported the tabloid “Daily Mirror”, citing royal sources. What is needed is a “careful and cautious” approach to future appointments. Buckingham Palace had previously announced that doctors had recommended the 95-year-old monarch to rest for two more weeks.
Royal Family is said to accompany Queen Elizabeth more often
In the future, appointments and related trips should be decided based on how the Queen feels. Since she was 90, Elizabeth II has already given up long-distance travel. Most recently, she had also canceled two domestic trips: to Northern Ireland and to the climate summit, which begins this Sunday in the Scottish city of Glasgow.
In addition, other members of the Royal Family should expand their commitment and accompany the Queen even more often at her appointments, as the “Mirror” reported on. “The closer members of the Royal Family as a unit have collectively discussed a greater need for cooperation in their joint projects,” the paper quoted its source as saying. It is also about supporting each other in the short term. “After the corona measures are over, everyone feels the need to come out and do more.”
The Queen’s health has moved more into focus in the past two weeks. During a visit to Westminster Abbey accompanied by her daughter, Princess Anne, the head of state showed himself for the first time without a medical reason with a walking stick. Two days later she was seen walking again. The Queen even spent the night of October 22nd “for practical reasons” in the private King Edward VII Hospital, where she was for “preliminary examinations”. The doctors then ordered her to rest – which is now being extended.
Queen should “continue to rest for at least the next two weeks”
“The Queen is aware of the need to take it easy, and she will do so now,” said the palace source. “She will no doubt perform again when she feels ready.” The Queen’s declared goal is to take part in the traditional service on November 14th to commemorate the end of the First World War and those who died. Remembrance Sunday is a must for the Royals.
“Following her recent advice that the Queen should rest for a few days, Her Majesty’s doctors have recommended that she continue to rest for at least the next two weeks,” the palace said on Friday evening. “Doctors have recommended that Her Majesty can continue to perform light desk tasks, including some virtual audiences, but not official visits, during this time.” Her Majesty regrets that she has had to go without events because of the medical advice.
Elizabeth II has also stoically worked through her royal calendar, which was already full again a few weeks after the death of her husband Prince Philip in April. The PA news agency counted a dozen appointments in October alone, despite the hospitalization, including a visit to Cardiff and a day at the horse race, which the monarch loves. According to participants of her appointments, she recently appeared fit.
It will be difficult for her advisors and courtiers to reduce the number of appointments in the new year. In 2022, Elizabeth II has been queen for 70 years – she has sat since the death of her father, King George VI. on the throne on February 6, 1952. This platinum jubilee has been advertised by the palace for months. The central date is a long weekend at the beginning of June, with a big concert, a church service and a military parade being planned.