Queen health update as disgraced Prince Andrew ‘to chaperone Queen to Epsom Derby’

The Queen is expected to make a major change to her public engagements as Prince Andrew causes more outrage over his new public role.

The Queen is expected to hold “more engagements from her living room” over her “mobility issues”, a royal expert has claimed.

The 95-year-old’s health has been a source of concern in recent months, particularly since she spent a night in hospital last October.

However, she managed to still attend Prince Philip’s memorial service last week where she was seen walking along using a stick.

“The diary has become quite an agile piece of royal equipment in the sense that it’s up to the Queen in the morning what she can and can’t do...People are going to be coming to the Queen rather than her travelling to them,” royal expert Camilla Tominey told The Telegraph.

Earlier this month it was reported that the Queen had decided to make Windsor Castle her permanent home and main residence.

“The monarchy is changing before our very eyes and arguably that’s no bad thing,” Ms Tominey said.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. Picture: Getty Images

“What we think is the Queen isn’t having health problems but mobility problems - she can’t stand for long periods or walk for long distances and therefore accommodations are being made.”

“I think the palace are handling this vey much as they did when the Duke of Edinburgh retired and he was able to say which engagements he did or didn’t want to attend at very short notice.”

Ms Tominey predicted that the Queen’s future engagements will involve the monarch going “where she needs to be in private and then be photographed on the spot”.

“That being said, we had some lovely photographs last week of an audience in her own living room. That’s going to be happening more frequently now,” she said.

“When it comes to the royal diary, they’ve got to prioritize quality over quantity.”

The Queen and Prince Andrew at Prince Philip’s memorial. Picture: AFP

Speaking about the Queen’s appearance at the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service last week, she said: “The memorial service was sacrosanct in the royal diary.

“Despite her own discomfort, she was determined to be there. Yes, concessions had to be made to ensure she was as comfortable as possible but it’s these type of engagements she will move heaven and earth to attend.

“I think its only fitting she was there and leading from the front.”
Her Majesty’s latest health battle comes as Prince Andrew continues to cause controversy after stepping back into the limelight following his controversial central role at Prince Philip’s memorial last week.

Prince Andrew will reportedly accompany the Queen to one of Britain’s most famous racing festivals, the Epsom Derby, on the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee weekend in June.

The Duke of York is planning on escorting his mother to the Epsom race, despite one source reportedly telling The Sun that he was meant to “stay invisible” during the weekend celebrations.

The 62-year-old, who settled a sex case with Australian-based Virginia Roberts Giuffre in February this year, was firmly in the public eye last week at Prince Phillip’s memorial service.

Prince Andrew accompanied the Queen to a memorial service for Prince Philip. Picture: AFP

“He was meant to stay invisible during the Platinum Jubilee so there is no way he will be at events like Trooping the Colour,” a royal source told The Sun.

“But the Queen needs a chaperone on all occasions at the moment due to her mobility issues and Andrew has earmarked the Derby as the one he will accompany her at.

“He just doesn’t seem to understand the public outcry.”

The Queen has stood by her embattled son. Picture: AFP

A royal reporter has claimed that the prince’s potential appearance at Epsom “will really backfire” for the family.

“I think it could really backfire for the royal family,” said royal expert Natalie Oliveri.

“This is not going to be a good look if Prince Andrew does accompany his mother to the Epsom Derby later this year. It will certainly leave a lot of people angry.”

Prince Andrew’s initial step back into the limelight have surprised many. Picture: Getty Images

Prince Andrew’s prominent role in last week’s event was said to have left Princes Charles and Prince William “dismayed”.

He was seen walked his mother through Westminster Abbey to her seat in full view of the live broadcast cameras — to the shock of many in the congregation.

Even his siblings were said to be “dismayed” by the stunt, with them earlier hoping “commonsense” would prevail and he would accept playing a backroom role in the event.

But the Queen said that it was her “wish and final decision” for her “favourite” son to accompany her on the day.

Prince Andrew at Epsom with the Queen in 2013. Picture: AFP

It was the disgraced royal’s first public appearance since he paid a reported $20 million settlement to Jeffrey Epstein victim Ms Roberts Giuffre to end a highly-damaging civil sexual assault case in New York.

He was forced to step back from public life over his association with the dead billionaire, Epstein.

It is reported that Princes Charles and William raised concerns “on more than one occasion” about the optics of allowing Prince Andrew to escort the 95-year-old monarch down to her seat at such a well-publicised event.

The latest outrage over Prince Andrew’s public move comes as Sarah Ferguson shared a series of Instagram posts on behalf of her ex-husband over the weekend using his banned “His Royal Highness” title.

In the message, the Duke of York reflected on the 40th anniversary of his leaving to serve in the Falkland War with the Royal Navy, where he flew missions as a Sea King helicopter pilot.

The post was signed by “written by HRH The Duke of York”, despite the Queen stripping him of his military titles and royal responsibilities due to the public scandal that exposed his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in January.

While he would retain his title as the Duke of York and keep his place in the line of succession to the throne, the prince was to no longer use the style ”His Royal Highness” in any official capacity.

Shortly after the message was posted, the Instagram message was amended to remove the “HRH” title, before it was quickly deleted entirely.

– with The Sun