Queen Elizabeth Can’t Make Easter Service For The First Time In Years

The 95-year-old was previously scheduled to make an in-person appearance at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor on April 14, but Prince Charles and Camilla will stand in for her instead.

Prince Wales To Represent The Queen At Maundy Day Church Service

The annual event is an important fixture in the royal calendar and this year will be the first time Charles will take over from the Queen. This will see Charles distribute Maundy money to community stalwarts on Thursday in observance of an ancient tradition.

Prince Charles, 73, and Camilla, 74, are set to meet the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner KCVO, and the Lord High Almoner, the Right Reverend Dr. John Inge.

Afterward, they will proceed to the West Steps in order to take an official photograph that’ll mark the occasion.

This does not mean that Her Majesty, who has been experiencing difficulty walking, won’t continue with other duties as she is set to hold virtual audiences this coming week. The monarch was last seen in person during her husband Prince Philip’s memorial service that took place on March 29.

Sources say that she wasn’t up to the task as the order of service was printed on Friday, April 8. She reportedly made sure that she confirmed the arrangements in order to avoid any misunderstanding, as she wouldn’t want the day to be foreshadowed.

This coming Thursday will be the fifth time in the Queen’s seven-decade reign that she has missed Maundy service.

What Made The Queen Miss Maundy Service In The Past

The Queen’s staunch work ethics and her commitment to service are admirable. Even as a soon-to-be 96-year-old woman, she’s still surprisingly keeping to most of her schedule.

She hasn’t been seen in public much as a result of her advanced age and has been using a cane to get around for the past six months. She’s also had to stop walking her beloved Corgis for a while now and she’s publicly admitted during an official engagement that she “can’t move”.

In her decades of reign, she’s only ever missed the service four times.

In 1954, Her Majesty was represented by the Lord High Almoner while she was away on a Commonwealth Tour, and the Queen Mother took her place in 1960 after she gave birth to Prince Andrew.

In 1964, Princess Mary attended following the birth of Prince Edward, and the Queen Mother went in her place in 1970 while the monarch toured New Zealand at the time.

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