Buckingham Palace garden parties return, but no Queen Elizabeth

cde.news desk 5 May 2022, 13:20 · 1 min read

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II departs from Buckingham Palace ahead of the State Opening of Parliament in London, Britain, 11 May 2021. The Queen will deliver a speech in which she will outline the government's plans for the year ahead, in her first royal duty since Prince Philip's death. EPA-EFE/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) – Members of the British royal family will stand in for Queen Elizabeth when the traditional garden parties return this summer at Buckingham Palace, her office said on Thursday.

Mobility issues have meant that the 96-year-old monarch has been forced to cut back on public engagements, and the Palace said members of the family would represent her at the garden parties which are returning after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a two-year hiatus.

Traditionally, the queen hosts three annual garden parties at her home in central London and another at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh but these have had to be cancelled because of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Buckingham Palace parties will be held in May and the one in Scotland in June.

“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,” her office said in a statement.

At the start of June there will also be four days of nationwide celebrations to mark the queen’s 70th year on the throne, including a service of thanksgiving and a pageant through central London.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton)

Photo – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth . EPA-EFE/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA