The 96-year-old accompanied her son Prince Edward (58) in a bright yellow coat to the appointment at London’s Paddington station on Tuesday and smiled at the cameras. Just a week ago, the Queen was unable to give her traditional speech at the opening of Parliament for the first time in decades.
“By a joyful development, Her Majesty is attending the event today to honor the completion of the line,” Buckingham Palace said. The strategy there is now being followed at short notice whether the Queen will appear publicly on certain occasions in order to avoid disappointment through cancellations.
Line operational from May 24th
The Elizabeth Line begins operations on May 24th. it was originally supposed to open in 2018. The costs are also far in excess of the original plan: instead of £14.8 billion (€17.5 billion), they are now estimated to be almost £19 billion (€22.5 billion). The new line is intended to make east-west connections through the capital faster.
The Queen and her son were welcomed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and London Mayor Sadiq Khan at the official engagement. Due to health problems, the Queen has often been represented by other members of the Royal Family in recent months and, above all, has held virtual appointments or events.
Last week, for the first time in six decades, she also omitted the traditional “Queen’s Speech” at the opening of the annual parliamentary session. The government program was read out by her eldest son and heir to the throne, Charles. The monarch had canceled the participation at short notice. “The Queen continues to suffer from intermittent mobility issues and has reluctantly decided not to attend the State Opening,” a palace spokesman said. It was only the third time that the Queen did not give the speech herself. The first two times she was unable to attend because of pregnancy.
At the weekend, however, the monarch was again without major restrictions and in the best of moods at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. In just over two weeks, the big celebrations for her 70th anniversary of the throne are coming up.
Source: Nachrichten
