The royal Range Rover awaits: Queen may travel to Trooping the Colour by 4×4 instead of carriage for first time in her 70 year reign to boost comfort after suffering mobility issues
- The plan is one of several contingencies being drawn up for Jubilee celebrations
- It would see four mounted divisions escort the Queen up the Mall on June 2
- Reason for plan is understood ‘both speed and comfort’ in light of mobility issues
- It comes as presence of the monarch, 96, for events will be ‘decided on the day’
The Queen may travel to Trooping the Colour by Range Rover instead of a royal carriage for the first time in her 70-year reign to boost her comfort after suffering from mobility issues.
The monarch, 96, may make the journey from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade by 4×4 as part of several contingency plans being drawn up by officials ahead of the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
During her reign, the Queen’s attendance at most engagements has been planned for months and often announced publicly weeks in advance.
But the presence of the monarch – who marks her 96th birthday on Thursday – will now be a bonus, rather than guaranteed and ‘will be decided on the day’ due to mobility issues.
Last night, Buckingham Palace distanced itself from the suggestion that the Queen would watch Trooping the Colour from the Major-General’s office overlooking the parade ground rather than inspecting the troops on a dais, The Telegraph reports.
A royal insider said: ‘I cannot imagine in 100 years that if attending, Her Majesty wouldn’t be seated on a dais in Horse Guards Parade.
The Queen pictured inspecting troops on Horse Guards Parade in a traditional open topped carriage in June 2007
The Queen was pictured travelling on the Sandringham Estate in a Range Rover on Monday in the week after celebrating her 96th birthday
From left: Prince Andrew, the Queen, Meghan Markle, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Kate and Prince William attend the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in June 2018
The Queen looked a picture of happiness on Monday as she continued her 96th birthday celebrations with friends and family at Sandringham
‘All the plans are fluid at the moment and nothing has been finalised.’
The Queen’s most recent public appearance came on March 29 at the thanksgiving service for her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey.
But over the past six months she has withdrawn from several other events historically central to her diary, including the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph and the annual Commonwealth Service.
Aides are hopeful the Queen will be able to attend some of the events organised to mark her 70th jubilee in person, although it is expected these will be few in number.
The Household Cavalry is said to have been informed of alternative options in light of her mobility problems.
The 4×4 proposal would see four mounted divisions escort the Queen’s vehicle up The Mall on June 2, with other Royals sticking to the tradition of travelling by carriage.
Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne are expected to take part in the parade on horsebacks as part of their roles as ‘Royal Colonels’.
Another royal source told the Telegraph that the reason for the plan was ‘both speed and comfort’ as it is no longer comfortable for the Queen to ‘travel by carriage or to be standing on a dais for an extended period’.
Typically, the Queen is joined by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, as well as more distant relatives like her niece, nephew and cousins.
She has extended the invitation to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who she saw together for the first time in more than two years when they stopped off at Windsor Castle last week on their way to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games.
Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, would attend in an informal role, following their decision to step down as working members of the Royal Family.
Buckingham Palace is said to have promised the Sussexes full armed security at all Royal Family events in June in a bid to reassure them after Harry said he felt ‘unsafe’ in Britain.
The Queen pictured sitting during a military ceremony in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle to mark her Official Birthday on June 12, 2021, in Windsor
The Queen traditionally travels to Trooping the Colour in an open topped carriage, but may travel to the parade in a 4×4 for comfort on June 2. Pictured: The Queen travelling to Trooping the Colour in 1994
Harry and Meghan wave to the crowds from an open topped carriage during the Trooping the Colour in June 2018
But despite Her Majesty and Prince Charles removing the main obstacle for Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet attending, the Duke of Sussex is still said to be genuinely undecided about whether to jet in to celebrate his grandmother’s 70 years on the throne.
It comes after the Queen looked a picture of happiness on Monday as she continued her 96th birthday celebrations with friends and family at Sandringham.
Wearing sunglasses and a trademark headscarf, Her Majesty grinned and chatted as she headed out into the Spring sunshine on her Norfolk estate.
The monarch was taking the time to see her horses as they prepare for the flat racing season, including the Epsom Derby in June, which she hopes to attend.
Source: Read Full Article
