Queen will make trip to Sandringham for 96th birthday to be 'closer to Philip'

Queen Elizabeth won't be present at this year's Opening of Parliament. In a statement to ET on Monday, Buckingham Palace announced that the 96-year-old monarch won't attend Tuesday's event due to «episodic mobility problems.»«The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow,» the statement read. «At Her Majesty’s request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of Wales will read The Queen’s speech on Her Majesty’s behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also in attendance,» the statement added, referring to the queen's son, Prince Charles, and grandson, Prince William, respectively.The statement from Buckingham Palace came after ET learned that the queen has canceled a number of events recently and has been conducting virtual audiences, ahead of her Platinum Jubilee festivities this summer, which will celebrate her 70 years on the throne. ET also learned that the queen won't attend every upcoming Platinum Jubilee event, because the Palace is pacing her now that she is 96. A family source told ET that the queen has been «having mobility issues and as a result her diary has been scaled back.» The source added that it’s hoped the queen can participate in many of the meaningful moments that have special significance during the June festivities, which will include four days of events.The celebrations will begin on June 2 with a birthday parade. According to a press release, the Trooping the Colour will feature the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards and more than 1200 officers and soldiers as well as hundreds of Army musicians and about 240 horses.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are heading across the pond with their kids. The couple will attend Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, a spokesperson for the pair confirmed to ET.What's more is they will be bringing their children, Archie and Lilibet, with them to the celebrations, marking the first time their daughter will meet the monarch since being born in Santa Barbara, California, last June. According to a source close to the royal family, the queen is delighted she will be meeting her great-granddaughter for the first time and excited to be able to spend time with Archie and Lili. ET understands Harry’s relatives are also looking forward to meeting the couple's infant daughter and seeing Archie, who is now a 3-year-old toddler. While ET has learned that it was the sovereign herself who invited Harry and Meghan to attend her celebrations, they will not be permitted to partake in the royal family's traditional balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour event.

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As the Queen celebrates her 96th birthday, royals including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shared loving tributes to mark the occasion. But as Her Majesty celebrates her birthday without her late husband Prince Philip — her “strength and stay” — by her side for a second year, a favourite tradition of the Duke of Edinburgh’s will be missing from the day.

The Queen is celebrating her 96th birthday today.

Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her 96th birthday in a special location. A royal source tells ET that the queen, who is turning 96 on Thursday, will be traveling to Sandringham, where her late husband, Prince Philip, «spent many of the last years of his life.»«The queen will spend her 96th birthday privately at Sandringham.

Royally celebrating. Queen Elizabeth’s birthday plans for her 96th year have very sentimental value. The elderly queen traveled to her estate in Sandringham the day before her big day, and the Norfolk home has some memories tied to the Queen’s late husband, Prince Philip. 

Celebrating solo? Queen Elizabeth II traveled to her Sandringham Estate ahead of her 96th birthday, Us Weekly confirms.

As a young princess, Her Majesty the Queen wished for a brother to avoid the pressures of the crown. According to Ian Lloyd, author of The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II , prayed hard for her mother to produce a male heir and take the throne instead of her.

Birthday celebrations are approaching after a difficult year for the Queen. It’s been barely a year since Prince Philip, her “strength and stay”, died last April and since then she’s lived alone with her staff and beloved dogs at Windsor Castle. She fought off Covid and attended her late husband’s memorial service at Westminster Abbey on March 29.

The Queen may have been unable to attend the royal Easter church service, but she was in good company at home at Windsor Castle where she was paid a visit by her granddaughter, Princess Beatrice.The 95-year-old and her granddaughter were joined by Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, their daughter Sienna and Edoardo's son from a previous relationship, Wolfie. Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's baby girl Sienna is almost seven months old which makes this her first Easter celebration.The daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson has always said that her two role models in life are her mum and the Queen with whom she shares an especially close bond.

Prince Harry has given an insight into his and wife Meghan Markle's visit with the Queen, after jetting to the UK for a secret meeting with the Queen last week.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reported to have flown from California to the UK together for the first time since stepping down from their roles as senior royals in 2020. Harry, 37, and wife Meghan, 40, were said to have left onlookers stunned as they stopped by Windsor Castle on Thursday 14 April. A spokesperson for the couple confirmed to OK! the couple visited the Queen before flying to the Netherlands for their appearance at the Invictus Games over the weekend.

Queen Elizabeth took a private moment to grieve after Prince Philip‘s funeral.

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LONDON -- Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have visited Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on their first joint visit to the U.K. since they gave up formal royal roles and moved to the U.S.

This year, Queen Elizabeth II will be notably missing from the royal family’s customary Easter Sunday services.