Queen Elizabeth II will soon fulfill scaled-down engagements after Buckingham Palace officials have removed the grueling work she has to take due to her frailing health and advancing age. In fact, the monarch recently faced mobility issues that forced her to pull out of some major royal events.
It's the first time in a decade that the Palace has changed Queen Elizabeth's royal duties. Insiders have "downplayed" the significance of Her Majesty's lessened responsibilities, given that she's already 96 years old and has had health scares.
Express noted Prince Charles, her heir apparent, will be taking some of her mother's royal duties. The Sovereign Grant report, signed off by the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Michael Stevens, revealed the monarch would remain to have two of her critical roles: the Head of State and Head of Nation.
She's expected to do the State Opening of Parliament, the prime minister appointment and paying and receiving state visits, but these "must-dos" have since been decreased. Now, these activities have been replaced with "a range of parliamentary and diplomatic duties."
Queen Elizabeth only has to do "appropriate or necessary" duties as Head of Nation. Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton will perform a number of the Queen's tasks instead.
Recently, she alarmed fans again after they saw a huge bruise on her right hand when she met Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on June 29, during an audience in Edinburgh. When photos of the even emerged, they showed not just a concerning detail on her frail frame but her health overall, resulting in a health scare.
Sure, she had no walking stick at the time, suggesting her mobility might have already been fine after struggling before, but the bruise still set off an alarm. One fan asked if it was a bruise, as it looked like she had slammed her hand in a door or she had a fall.
Others claimed Queen Elizabeth might have dropped something on it or injured her hand. However, doctors said the bruise might be a result of something else.
GP Giuseppe Aragona told Express, via New Idea, that it might be a cause of lack of circulation, frail skin, exposed veins or blood leakage to the tissue beneath the skin. "It could be cyanosis which occurs when there is not enough oxygen in the blood... this could be linked to her recent injury," the medical professional explained.
Since late 2021, Queen Elizabeth has faced several health challenges. She was hospitalized overnight in October, suffered a back sprain and even battled COVID-19 earlier this year.
