Charles to deliver speech as Queen Elizabeth misses first state opening in 60 years

Buckingham Palace said in a statement that the monarch had 'reluctantly' decided not attend this year following advice from doctors

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles during the State Opening of the British parliament in 2019. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA

Prince Charles will read the queen’s speech for the first time as Queen Elizabeth misses the state opening of the British parliament for the first time in almost 60 years.

The queen, 96, pulled out of the ceremonial occasion — when she reads out the government’s legislative programme for the forthcoming parliamentary session — as she continued to experience “episodic mobility problems”.