British Queen abstains from speech from the throne for the first time since 1963, Prince Charles addresses parliament

The Queen has been struggling with her health for some time. She has canceled several commitments in recent months. According to royalty watcher Flip Feyten, she suffers from a pulled muscle in her back, which makes it difficult for her to walk. “Maybe she doesn’t want to be seen in a wheelchair,” he says.

Her schedule has been severely curtailed over the past year, but she’s still working. “She still signs legal texts, she still receives people at Windsor Castle. She still has weekly video conferences with the prime minister. There is nothing wrong mentally, that is very clear, but she has difficulty moving,” says Feyten. “It’s a miracle that she had such a busy schedule until last year, that was insane. For a 96-year-old she still does a lot.”

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