Queen to miss State Opening of Parliament for first time in 59 years

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The Queen has been forced to cancel her appearance at the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow.

Prince Charles will instead read the monarch's speech as she struggles with mobility issues which will prevent her attending the ceremony for the first time in 59 years.

The Queen's speech will be delivered by Charles soon after the beginning of the ceremony which kicks off at 11:30am on May 10.

Without it no legislation can be passed after Parliament has been suspended or 'prorogued' for elections last week.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "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.

"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 decision which is understood to have been taken on Monday, is the latest of public appearances the Queen has been unable to attend this year.

Her poor state of health in November last year meant she was unable to attend the Remembrance Sunday memorial at the Cenotaph.

Since her 'regrettable' absence the Queen, 95, has taken medical advice to take her issues of movement seriously.

The monarch's speech is expected to include changes to Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit border arrangements, as well as an emphasis on a new energy strategy to try and clean up the country's energy uses.

Charles is also thought to be reading aloud plans for nuclear power, the privatisation of Channel 4 and a controversial bill to replace the Human Rights Act on behalf of her government.

New restrictions on landlords are expected and what the PM has termed the "super seven" of Brexit Bills designed to tackle "unnecessary barriers inherited from the EU".

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