Queen to forgo major Platinum Jubilee event

Buckingham Palace has announced the Queen will not be in attendance at the upcoming Garden Party celebrations in honour of the Monarch’s Platinum Jubilee.

In a statement released on Thursday evening, May 5, the Palace revealed the Queen would be represented by other members of the Royal family, as they welcome guests back to the special event which had been postponed for several years due to the global pandemic.

“Her Majesty The Queen will be represented by other Members of the Royal Family at this year’s Garden Parties, with details on attendance to be confirmed in due course,” a statement from Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday evening,” the statement read.

“The Royal Household is looking forward to welcoming guests back to Buckingham Palace for the first Garden Parties since 2019, in recognition of their positive contributions to communities across the United Kingdom.”

According to Nine Honey, the garden parties will take place at the Palace over the course of three days on each Wednesday in May (11th, 18th and 25th).

The Queen is also set to miss an additional Platinum Jubilee garden party at Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse on Wednesday, June 29, for undisclosed reasons.

On May 12, Princess Anne often referred to as ‘The Princess Royal’, will host and attend the Not Forgotten Association’s annual garden party, a charity association for which she is a patron. The charity provides “events for wounded serving personnel and disabled veterans, which improve physical and mental health, address isolation and loneliness, and promote a sense of community and balance,” according to the organisation’s official website. The Princess will also attend a number of other public ballot events, according to Nine.

Concern has grown among royal fans following the Queen’s absence from a series of public engagements after suffering a number of health and mobility issues.

Despite the Queen’s growing health concerns, she appeared in good spirits as she returned to Windsor Castle on April 29, for her first in-person engagement after enjoying a week long break for her 96th birthday at Sandringham.

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The Queen attended the engagement without the aid of her walking stick, which has been in regular use for the Queen since she was first spotted using the mobility aid while attending a service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on October 12, 2021.

Official Platinum Jubilee celebrations will take place on the first weekend in June, between June 2-5.