At 95, Queen Elizabeth II was forced to slow down

A night in the hospital and her visit to COP26 canceled: At the age of 95, Elizabeth II had to slow down, a “turning point” after seven decades devoted to her subjects.

• Read also: Queen Elizabeth II abandons participation in COP26 ‘for convenience’

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• Read also: Queen Elizabeth II was pushed to rest by her doctors

His trip to the United Nations climate conference, which began on Sunday in Scotland, has been eagerly awaited, as the Queen, like the entire royal family, is personally committed to environmental issues.

And Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that His Majesty the King regrettably decided not to go to Glasgow after a medical opinion “advising him to rest”.

As for the event, which holds great stakes on the planet, it is “disappointing”, admits Benny Junor, a royal family specialist interviewed by AFP. “But it is a very reasonable decision for the Queen” given what the trip would include: a “long trip”, followed by a “particularly tiring evening reception”, along with “the risk of exposure to COVID-19”.

Too much risk to the King, she settled in on October 20, a day after a reception at Windsor Castle where she appeared to converse with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and American businessman Bill Gates.

She spent the next night in the hospital, her first hospital admission since 2013. Buckingham Palace was happy to mention the ‘initial checks’.

Since then, the Queen has officially taken over the “light” duties. I received two ambassadors by video link.

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France Press agency

For Richard Fitzwilliams, a specialist in the royal family, the Queen had to “reluctantly” concede COP26. He asserts, “She knows that an event has a special character if she attends it.” But “there is clearly a limit at 95 years.”

For nearly 70 years, the Queen, who is set to celebrate her platinum jubilee next year, has been still showing very well in public lately.

After her traditional summer vacation in Balmoral, Scotland, she participated almost daily in official engagements, resuming her pre-pandemic rhythm: 295 engagements in 2019. Not to mention the less visible work of government document reviews and her nearly weekly conversations with the prime minister. minister.

Elizabeth II was recently seen walking with a cane, for the first time since 2004. According to The Sun, the Queen has also stopped walking her Corgi dogs in recent days.

“It’s a bit of a turning point,” said Penny Junor. “She’s worked at the pace of someone who’s 20 years younger, and I think the public needs to adjust their expectations and realize that she’s 95.”

A sentiment shared by the British in an interview with AFP. Susan Fotin, 68, said the Queen should “move more and more into the background and finally take the happy retirement she deserves”.

France Press agency

For her, Elizabeth II “needed to keep working after losing her husband” Philip, who died at the age of 99 in April, and she did a lot.

“She needs to slow down, a little anxious,” adds Michelle Hall.

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For Benny Junor, the future governor will “appear less personally.” And “When you show up, you’ll be as a spectator, rather than meeting dozens of people at receptions.”

His son Charles, heir to the crown, will deliver the opening address to COP26. The 72-year-old prince, who was not well liked by the British, has already liked her abroad since she stopped going there. The Queen will also be able to count on her grandson, Prince William, who is third in line of succession and more famous than her father.

Richard Fitzwilliams also expects to see Elizabeth II participate in more events by videoconferencing: “It’s great the way you’ve been able to communicate virtually,” he said, citing his speeches to the nation in times of pandemic.

Something to reassure Linda Smart, 73, from London.

“She is stronger than anything else. She still has a few years to go, that’s for sure.”