Queen won’t receive Trooping the Colour salute for first time in 70 years

‘Episodic mobility problems’ mean the Queen may attend only part of the ceremony she hasn’t missed in 70 years.

Queen Elizabeth II and family members on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 2019. Picture: Xinhua/Ray Tang/Getty Images

Plans are being drawn up for members of the British royal family to replace Queen Elizabeth at Trooping the Colour for the first time in her 70-year reign.

The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal are set to take the royal salute during the military display at Horse Guards Parade, another sign of the sovereign delegating more duties.

It is hoped that the Queen, 96, who is experiencing “episodic mobility problems”, will attend part of the ceremony, which is being modified with her comfort in mind, on June 2. As well as marking her official birthday, the parade will kick off four days of national celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee.

This month, Charles, 73, and Prince William, 39, stood in for her at the state opening of parliament, the first time she had missed the event in 59 years.

The Mall has been lined with Union Flags in preparation for the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

One plan being considered would see the Queen, who is head of the armed forces, travel in a carriage from Buckingham Palace to briefly inspect the troops, before retiring for the rest of the ceremony, with Charles, William and Anne on horseback representing her at the parade ground. It is hoped the monarch would then later reappear at the palace for the traditional balcony moment with members of the royal family.

In another plan under consideration, the Queen will have even less involvement, appearing only on the balcony at the ceremony’s conclusion. It is understood that whichever plan the Queen decides on, she will not be present for most of the parade.

She has previously always been present at Horse Guards Parade for the duration of the ceremony, either on horseback or, in more recent years, seated on a dais.

Charles, William and Anne, 71, will ride on the parade in their roles as respective royal colonels of the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards and the Blues and Royals.

The Duke of Kent, 86, who has traditionally joined them as colonel of the Scots Guards, will not ride due to his age.

For the past two years, the Queen has been seated on a dais for scaled-back half-hour ceremonies at Windsor Castle due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will guest star in an episode of EastEnders to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The Queen has attended Trooping the Colour to take the royal salute every year of her reign, except in 1955, when it was cancelled due to a rail strike. In 1981, Marcus Serjeant, 17, fired six blank cartridges at her as she rode down the Mall. Serjeant was jailed for five years.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children, Archie and Lilibet, will join the Queen for her jubilee at the parade and a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 3. Buckingham Palace has confirmed they will not join her on the palace balcony after Trooping the Colour, which “after careful consideration” by the Queen will only include royals undertaking official duties.

The Queen also plans to attend the service of thanksgiving. Her presence at jubilee celebrations will be confirmed only on the day of each event.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will guest star in an episode of EastEnders to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The couple will surprise residents of Walford at a street party organised by Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer. Charles and Camilla secretly filmed the scenes in March during a visit to the set in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

It is not the first time Charles has had a cameo in a soap opera. He appeared in an episode of Coronation Street in 2000 to mark the ITV show’s 40th anniversary.

The Times