Following an important decision made by his grandmother, the Queen, Prince William is set to make history on May 10th.
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In Her Majesty’s absence, the Duke of Cambridge will attend the State Opening of Parliament for the first time. His father, Prince Charles, and stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, are expected to accompany him.
With the Queen’s permission, Charles, the heir to the throne, will also deliver the speech.
Prince William is attending as a Counsellor of State, a senior member of the royal family with the authority to act on the monarch’s behalf.
Her Majesty will be absent from the State Opening at the Palace of Westminster for the first time in 59 years. When she was pregnant with her youngest child, Prince Edward, in 1963, she was unable to attend.
On Monday, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed the news, saying, “The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and has reluctantly decided not to attend the State Opening of Parliament in consultation with her doctors.”
“The Prince of Wales will read The Queen’s speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also in attendance, at Her Majesty’s request and with the agreement of the relevant authorities.”
The Duchess of Cambridge, William’s wife, will be conspicuously absent from the State Opening.
Instead, Kate will be in Manchester, England, for the official opening of the Manchester Arena bombing memorial on the fifth anniversary of the terror attack. At a private ceremony, the mother-of-three will join bereaved families. Later in the day, Prince William will join her.
It comes just four weeks before the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee festivities begin. It is hoped that the monarch will be able to attend some of the numerous events planned over the four days.
