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| Queen's speech reveals changes in way royal family intends to operate | Queen's speech reveals changes in way royal family intends to operate |
| (4 months later) | |
| Someone was added and something was missing during the customary pomp of the state opening of parliament as the Queen's speech was delivered on Wednesday. | Someone was added and something was missing during the customary pomp of the state opening of parliament as the Queen's speech was delivered on Wednesday. |
| The someone was the Duchess of Cornwall, regally bedecked in the late Queen Mother's tiara on loan to her by the Queen, and accompanying the Prince of Wales, who was himself attending the ceremony for the first time in 17 years. | The someone was the Duchess of Cornwall, regally bedecked in the late Queen Mother's tiara on loan to her by the Queen, and accompanying the Prince of Wales, who was himself attending the ceremony for the first time in 17 years. |
| Their presence together, and sitting next to the Queen, was unthinkable a decade ago and is indicative of the changes the monarchy has undergone in recent years. | Their presence together, and sitting next to the Queen, was unthinkable a decade ago and is indicative of the changes the monarchy has undergone in recent years. |
| The something missing is also a sign of further change on the horizon. | The something missing is also a sign of further change on the horizon. |
| Normally, at the end of delivering the speech, the Queen includes details of forthcoming engagements and foreign tours she will undertake during the parliamentary year on behalf of the government. | Normally, at the end of delivering the speech, the Queen includes details of forthcoming engagements and foreign tours she will undertake during the parliamentary year on behalf of the government. |
| This year there was no such mention. The reason? Because for possibly the first time in her long reign no such tours have been planned. | This year there was no such mention. The reason? Because for possibly the first time in her long reign no such tours have been planned. |
| Buckingham Palace's announcement on Tuesday that Prince Charles would be standing in for his 87-year-old mother at the biennial Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in Sri Lanka in November led to intense speculation that the Queen would be handing in her passport – if she had one. But apparently the fact that passports are issued in the monarch's name means she does not require one. | Buckingham Palace's announcement on Tuesday that Prince Charles would be standing in for his 87-year-old mother at the biennial Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in Sri Lanka in November led to intense speculation that the Queen would be handing in her passport – if she had one. But apparently the fact that passports are issued in the monarch's name means she does not require one. |
| Future foreign travel for the octogenarian head of state – the most widely travelled on the planet – cannot be totally ruled out, though palace officials are reviewing her long-haul travel for the future. | Future foreign travel for the octogenarian head of state – the most widely travelled on the planet – cannot be totally ruled out, though palace officials are reviewing her long-haul travel for the future. |
| It is not that the Queen is not fit and healthy, the palace insists. And her consort, the Duke of Edinburgh, 92 next month, recently returned from a three-day trip to Toronto, Canada. | It is not that the Queen is not fit and healthy, the palace insists. And her consort, the Duke of Edinburgh, 92 next month, recently returned from a three-day trip to Toronto, Canada. |
| Also, Chogm is hard going. The Queen usually arrives before the leaders fly in fresh for the opening ceremony, joining them often after her completion of several days of official engagements. Then there are the one-to-one meetings with those anxious to discuss matters with her in person. | Also, Chogm is hard going. The Queen usually arrives before the leaders fly in fresh for the opening ceremony, joining them often after her completion of several days of official engagements. Then there are the one-to-one meetings with those anxious to discuss matters with her in person. |
| So, it is possible less arduous and more evenly paced foreign visits commensurate with her advanced years could be considered in the future. | So, it is possible less arduous and more evenly paced foreign visits commensurate with her advanced years could be considered in the future. |
| The Queen is also understood to be concerned about the physical strain on her husband, who was admitted to hospital three times last year. | The Queen is also understood to be concerned about the physical strain on her husband, who was admitted to hospital three times last year. |
| But, undoubtedly, Charles's augmented role conveys a significant message of how "the Firm" intends to operate in future, with the Prince of Wales assuming more of her official duties when necessary. | But, undoubtedly, Charles's augmented role conveys a significant message of how "the Firm" intends to operate in future, with the Prince of Wales assuming more of her official duties when necessary. |
| Perhaps it is coincidence that these very visible changes are taking place immediately after the world saw the Netherlands' Queen Beatrix, 75, cheerfully abdicate in favour of her son, Willem-Alexander. | Perhaps it is coincidence that these very visible changes are taking place immediately after the world saw the Netherlands' Queen Beatrix, 75, cheerfully abdicate in favour of her son, Willem-Alexander. |
| If, as is understood, the word "abdication" is not in the Queen's lexicon, then a "co-head" arrangement may be a solution to the practical challenges of an ageing sovereign. | If, as is understood, the word "abdication" is not in the Queen's lexicon, then a "co-head" arrangement may be a solution to the practical challenges of an ageing sovereign. |
| The question then, however, is if that is likely to continue on an informal basis, or to be placed on a more formal footing. | The question then, however, is if that is likely to continue on an informal basis, or to be placed on a more formal footing. |
| The word "regency" may also not be part of the Queen's vocabulary, and certainly she can hardly be said to be incapacitated. | The word "regency" may also not be part of the Queen's vocabulary, and certainly she can hardly be said to be incapacitated. |
| Wednesday's image of Charles and Camilla, attired in full ceremonial and sitting within feet of the thrones in the House of Lords, is momentous and symbolic. | Wednesday's image of Charles and Camilla, attired in full ceremonial and sitting within feet of the thrones in the House of Lords, is momentous and symbolic. |
| Giving nothing away, Clarence House's official statement on the matter reads: "Their royal highnesses' role is one of support. There is a precedent for the Prince of Wales to join Her Majesty for a state opening of parliament. | Giving nothing away, Clarence House's official statement on the matter reads: "Their royal highnesses' role is one of support. There is a precedent for the Prince of Wales to join Her Majesty for a state opening of parliament. |
| "The Prince of Wales often supports the Queen on state occasion, and his and the duchess's diaries were clear on this occasion." | "The Prince of Wales often supports the Queen on state occasion, and his and the duchess's diaries were clear on this occasion." |
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