Queen Elizabeth II has “reluctantly” pulled out of the state opening of the U.K.’s parliament due to a health issue, Buckingham Palace confirmed Monday.
In a statement released on the eve of Tuesday’s state opening — known as the queen’s speech — the palace said the queen “continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the state opening of parliament.”
Her son Prince Charles, the prince of Wales, will read the queen’s speech setting out the government’s legislative plans on her behalf. It will be the first time in 59 years that the monarch has failed to attend the ceremony.
The queen has been forced to pull out of a number of recent engagements due to health scares and mobility issues.
The monarch also contracted coronavirus in February. Speaking in April, the queen said the virus had left her feeling “very tired and exhausted.”
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