Queen to miss State Opening of Parliament for first time - BBC News

The Queen will not preside over this year's State Opening of Parliament and the reading of the Queen's Speech, Buckingham Palace has announced.

It will be the first time since 1963 that the Queen will have missed the constitutional ceremony which sets out the government's legislative plans.

Prince Charles and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, have jointly been given the authority to open Parliament on her behalf.

The 96-year-old monarch has mobility problems and had to cancel a number of recent public appearances.

Buckingham Palace had been saying the Queen hoped to attend, but has now confirmed she will not go to the ceremony in Westminster, because of "episodic mobility problems".

Huw Edwards presents BBC News at Ten reporting by royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell.

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