Queen ‘will struggle to slow down’ after doctors’ orders but ‘virtual’ meets are ‘the way forward’, say royal experts
THE Queen will “struggle” to slow down her hectic work schedule despite doctors warning her to take a break, according to royal experts.
Her Majesty, 95, has already been forced to cancel an appearance in Northern Ireland after spending a night in hospital last week.
The monarch also stepped down from attending the COP26 eco-summit on doctors’ orders – sparking concern for her welfare.
She resumed public engagements on Tuesday by meeting ambassadors via video link from Windsor Castle.
Buckingham Palace said she “regretfully” decided not to attend a reception at the summit.
As part of the conference, Her Majesty had planned to speak, but will instead deliver an address to the delegates via a recorded video message.
Royal experts have explained that the Queen will be “grieved” to miss the summit as she “truly hates” letting anyone down.
Last week the deeply religious sovereign was forced to miss church after her health scare, and was told to rest.
Most read in The Sun
Speaking to The Sun, Richard Fitzwilliams said: “She regretfully had to cancel NI on medical advice and spent the night in hospital.
“There is no question, especially given the Royal Family’s extraordinary commitment to the environment – particularly from Philip, Charles and now with William’s earthshot prize – of course she will be very grieved to miss being there in person.
“An event which the Queen personally attends does have a certain cachet which is irreplaceable.
“On other hand, if you bear in mind last year, she made two virtual broadcasts as well as her Christmas speech, all of which were magical and brought a lump to the throat.
“That perhaps points to way forward as the Royal Family come to terms, given the fact she is 95, that she won’t be able keep up the same schedule.”
Her Majesty has had a punishing workload of 120 official engagements in 194 days since the death of Prince Philip.
According to Mr Fitzwilliams, the Queen had had 295 engagements during 2019, and he believes that they will be “scaled down.
He says there’s a “concern” that the Queen “must be seen to be believed” – and she “isn’t someone who will naturally take to slowing down”.
If she’s not there you notice very much that she isn’t
Angela Levin
The expert said: “You are now looking at a scaling down, which began when she ceased long-haul flights in 2015.
“She knows people want to see her, she knows certain events are particularly important, and if she can possibly make it in person she will.
“But it’s more or less inevitable that there’ll be a very, very careful rethink. However, she truly hates letting anyone down.”
Her Majesty was due to travel to Scotland as part of a string of COP26 engagements by senior royals.
The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will still attend the summit next week.
Angela Levin, author of Harry: A Biography of a Prince, told TalkRadio: “She’s pivotal to anything she goes to – she’s got this charisma where people admire her so much they’ll come to say hello, shake her hand.
“She’s hugely respected. Countries not particularly interested in our monarchy think she’s extraordinary. It takes the gloss off it I think.
“We’re lucky to have Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and William and Kate going as well because they can bring a different atmosphere but it’s not the same.
“If she’s not there you notice very much that she isn’t.”
‘OFFICIALLY WORRIED’
There was an outpouring of support for the Queen after Buckingham Palace confirmed that she would be missing the summit.
TV firebrand Piers Morgan said that he was “officially worried” about the monarch as it was “very unusual” for her to miss “big events”.
The monarch was forced to cancel a planned trip to Northern Ireland before spending a night in hospital for tests.
She was later discharged in “good spirits” and was said to be keen to get back to her desk.
It was believed her medical team acted out of caution to have her admitted to King Edward VII hospital in Marylebone on Wednesday.
And the overnight stay — her first in a hospital for eight years — was for practical reasons, and unrelated to coronavirus.
She called off her trip to Northern Ireland – her first cancelled royal duty in 15 years – under strict orders to rest and faced preliminary investigations in hospital on October 20.