Not since 1970 has Queen Elizabeth canceled the Easter service on Maundy Thursday, but this year Prince Charles and his wife Camilla had to go in the Queen’s absence.
In the last six months, the British queen has only appeared in public once. It was during the memorial service for her late husband Prince Philip, last month.
– She has canceled all the other things she always participates in. You can compare it with if King Harald had announced his resignation until 17 May and the opening of the Storting, says historian and author Trond Norén Isachsen.
May be her last
He believes the British media in a completely new way has begun to relate to the fact that the queen will not necessarily live that much longer.
– One notices there is a fairly widespread concern in Britain for Queen Elizabeth’s health. She has become obviously frail and lost a lot of weight, says Isachsen.
– PREVIOUS TIME: It was during the memorial service for Prince Philip that Queen Elizabeth last appeared in public. Photo: Richard Pohle / AFP
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After the memorial service for Prince Philip, the British journalist Dominic Lawson wrote that while “God save the Queen” was sung, and the queen stood there with tears in her eyes, he thought that this might be her last public appearance.
Isachsen also believes that it is coming to an end for participation in public events for Queen Elizabeth, and that she would rather take a few things digitally.
– There are many indications that she is now retiring more and leaving the big things to her son. In the last six months, her health has deteriorated quite rapidly.
– Only baby food
The historian himself was in London recently, and says the mood in the country is characterized by fear for the queen’s health.
– People have a bit of the feeling that when she disappears, then everything falls apart. Many of the Commonwealth countries have made it clear that they will go their own way. One might also think that Scotland and Northern Ireland will leave the union, says Isachsen.
For the queen has been on the throne for 70 years, and no one under the age of 75 can imagine another head of state.
– MARRIED: Queen Elizabeth, when she was still a princess, married Prince Philip in 1947. She became queen in 1952, aged 25 years. Photo: AP / NTB
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– Prince Charles is not so popular, and you probably have a feeling that when she disappears, the cards will be dealt again.
The historian says, however, that there is little doubt about how popular the queen is.
– I think the reactions when Princess Diana died will be just baby food, compared to when Queen Elizabeth disappears, he says.
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