Queen skipped Jubilee events to ‘avoid distress’

The Queen was notably absent from multiple Jubilee events, “not for her own sake but for the distress it would cause other people,” it’s been claimed.

Queen Elizabeth II was notably absent from multiple Platinum Jubilee events due to her “episodic mobility issues”.

Royal historian Robert Lacey explained the decision to not go to some events was made in order to minimise any distress that onlookers might feel if she stumbled, Fox News reports.

“She would not want to stumble – not for her own sake but for the distress it would cause other people,” Lacey told People.

However, her absence was even felt at events she did attend. Queen Elizabeth II did not ride in the parade for the Trooping the Colour ceremony, choosing instead to remain on the balcony of Buckingham Palace the entire time.

The Queen made limited appearances at her Platinum Jubilee. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty

“In all the years I did the Queen’s Birthday Parade, it was Her Majesty the Queen there. To not have Her Majesty arriving was poignant and the fact that she went out onto the balcony was lovely,” Bill Mott, a former garrison sergeant major of London District who ran Trooping Colour for the Golden and Diamond Jubilees, told the outlet.

“I thought in my heart, how many more times am I going to see Her Majesty like that? It was quite sad for a lot of reasons. I know the Platinum Jubilee is meant to be a wonderful occasion and something to mark 70 years, but it was tinged with sadness for me,” Mr Mott said.

Other members of the royal family were more visible during the Jubilee. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty

“It’s the end of a very powerful era. How much longer are we going to be blessed with her?”

The royal family set out to reassure everyone that the Queen was doing fine after announcing she would not be attending the Service of Thanksgiving.

“Yes, she was fine, it was just very tiring yesterday, and she had had a lovely, lovely time,’” an attendee at London’s Guildhall recalled Kate Middleton saying on Friday, PA reported.

After missing a handful of events, Queen Elizabeth II made a surprise appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

At the end of the Platinum Jubilee, the Queen did publicly acknowledge her absence throughout the weekend.

“While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family,” she said.

This story originally appeared on Fox News and is republished here with permission