Here are some photos of Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor Castle on April 28. She did a very stage-managed photo-op with the president of Switzerland, and the British media was making a very big deal about how the Queen was not using her cane. Which is a stupid thing to praise. There’s nothing wrong about someone using a cane, and the Queen has been dealing with mobility issues for the better part of eight months. My first thought when I saw her without a cane was “Oh God, did someone force her to stand like that without her cane?” This is also why Prince Harry said what he said about the Queen needing protection – it’s been beyond clear for months that the Queen is surrounded by ableists who treat her mobility issues as something which needs to be hidden away and erased. Speaking of, after all of that praise for the Queen being photographed without a cane, palace aides are saying that the Queen might not even make it to the Buckingham Palace balcony for her big Jubbly celebration.
The Queen’s appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to mark the finale of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations is ‘by no means guaranteed’, a well-placed source has told The Mail on Sunday. It was hoped the Queen might appear on the iconic balcony beside other members of her family, but that now looks in doubt due to the 96-year-old’s restricted mobility. Aides are busy devising a ‘plan B’.
An insider said: ‘It could still happen but it is by no means guaranteed that we will see the Queen on the balcony during the Jubilee.’
Every jubilee year of the Queen’s reign has also featured a balcony moment, when various members of her family come together to watch an RAF flypast. But courtiers fear that the tradition may come to an end in June.
Now there are more difficult decisions, including whether to feature the balcony moment at all if the Queen is unable to be present. Prince Andrew is highly unlikely to appear given his departure from public life after the settlement of a civil court case in America over allegations of sexual abuse, which he vehemently denies.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also stepped down from their Royal roles, which would seem to automatically exclude them from playing an official part in the Platinum Jubilee to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, though Prince Harry has indicated that he may return to Britain with his family for the celebrations. The Queen is yet to meet her great-granddaughter, ten-month-old Lilibet.
But a non-appearance on the balcony by the Queen would solve one problem by putting an end to family squabbles over who ought to stand alongside her. Andrew is said to be jostling for involvement in the jubilee and is expected to continue to attend family gatherings. But questions are being asked over what constitutes an official jubilee engagement.
Personally, I think if the Queen can’t make it to the Buckingham Palace balcony, then perhaps that part of it should simply be canceled? It feels like it would be a huge disappointment to just have Charles, Camilla, William and Kate there. It would also exhibit the de facto regency (and no one seems willing to actually acknowledge it). I also wonder if ALL of this is just a matter of logistics – I wonder whether Buckingham Palace is quite difficult to navigate in a wheelchair, and whether the concern in this situation is “how do we get the Queen from Windsor to BP, and then get her on the palace’s top floor?” Maybe this is a moment to – gasp – just change the plans completely and do a smaller, unique Jubbly RAF flyover at Windsor Castle? These people can literally make it up as they go along. They’re just refusing to do so.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- Queen Elizabeth II receives the President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis and his wife Paola Cassis during an audience at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.,Image: 686853070, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photo with the President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis and his wife Paola Cassis during an audience at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.,Image: 686853092, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II during an audience with President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.,Image: 686853114, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II during an audience with President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.,Image: 686853114, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II during an audience with President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.,Image: 686853124, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II during an audience with President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.,Image: 686853133, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II during an audience with President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.,Image: 686853133, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
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- Queen Elizabeth II during an audience with President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis at Windsor Castle. Picture date: Thursday April 28, 2022.,Image: 686853133, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
What shameless manipulation. If the Queen won t be on the balcony, then her invited guests, Harry and Meghan, can’t be there either.
Agree. This seems like a rehash of Prince Philip’s funeral, where they denied all of the male RF members the opportunity to wear military regalia + medals, all because they wanted to deny it to Harry.
If they deny everyone the possibility of a balcony appearance (because if TQ can’t make it, no one should!), then they can, in their minds, justify denying it to Harry and Meghan.
For how long will Charles let this go on? is the real question….
How long will Charles let this go on? What makes you think he isn’t the one making this happen? He’s been chomping at the bit to star in the “Charles and Camilla Show” since his father died. Philip’s death knocked Betty for six, and Charles has been rapidly taking advantage. Charles wants very badly to be on that balcony with Camilla at his side.
Honestly, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it’s Charles’ chosen plants among the courtiers that had Harry worried about who is surrounding his gran. I mean we’re not at “throw momma down the stairs” at Windsor yet but old folks don’t handle rapid change well and Charles seems to be pushing his agenda a lot of late (Queen Consort title among other things). Are they all purposely trying to confuse the old gal in a bid to make a Full Regency happen? I wouldn’t put it past Chuck to be active in the matter.
Why does anyone believe that H would subject his family to the zoo-like/Truman show conditions that he rejected so roundly and soundly, by thinking/hoping he would visit england during the jubbly and be on the BP balcony, on display, not only for the rabid RotaRats, but for all of the UK???!!!
Just why?! How wd that benefit H&M, in that, they wd naturally NOT be on the front-row…..the regent and his mistress-wife-cum-FQC, plus the FFK & his consort and their three heirlings wd be in front and wd DELIBERATELY block H&M……………because it is the wet dream of all of britain that the Sussexes be brought back, put on public display, and publicly insulted because nothing short of that is gonna assuage their abject misery for having been so roundly and soundly rejected by the black American woman whose black excellence CONTINUES to put them to shame.
Globally.
H knows the inside-out of ALLLLLL their machinations and capabilities. He knows they want his wife’s head on a pike. He’s not going to subject his wife and children to the savagery of racists in the UK who want his wife and children dead.
If the queen is not on the balcony, there’s no point to it; no one cares about the rest. And agreed, if the queen is not part of the giant jubbly, why do it? Her decades-long presence is the reason for the occasion.
I don’t know why anyone would assume that a 96 year old wants to stand on a balcony just to be seen and wave for a few moments.
Like Kaiser said, they’re making all of this up so why not do something that’s a bit more ‘user friendly’ for someone of her age?
You know what would be “user-friendly?” A cane.
The entire jubbly is about a 96 year old reigning queen making an appearance. If you don’t have that, the whole “she’s been monarch for 70 years” is pointless.
They obviously have never watched Weekend at Bernie’s.
LOL
I agree that if the Queen can’t be on the balcony for her own jubilee, there should be no balcony appearance for anyone. They are celebrating the Queen, what has passed, not the future. That is also a problem with the Jubilee.
Well this is an ominous statement. I guess we can assume TQ will not be on the balcony. Or probably not even at the jubbly at all.
And yes, I’m pretty sure, from reccalling my visits inside, that Buckingham Palace is not retrofitted for handicap folks.
*oops… I didn’t mean to say not. It is capable of handicap access. I’m not sure if that includes the area to get to the balcony though.
The Pope had a Pope Mobile why can’t TQ have a special mobility scooter complete with a crest to get her on the balcony?
After all that fuss the press, CH and KP made about Harry and Meghan being on the balcony we find out the Queen may not be there either? This is poetic justice if the Queen can’t make the appearance. Furthermore if she’s not there, then what sense does it make to have the balcony scene anyway? They should scrap that part of the event. But then again this would be opportune time to bring her out in a wheelchair.
The *Queen herself* might not even be there BUT HOW DARE H&M NOT GIVE A DEFINITIVE RSVP??
GOTTA have a Jubbly!!!! How ELSE are they going to be able to skim/hide all that money off the top of all the tat & tickets for sale?? Sheesh! (yes, sarcasm!)
To be fair, given that they’re figureheads, events like this are all the BRF is really good for. If they can’t be trotted out for weddings, holidays, and Jubilees, then they truly serve no purpose – so it is a big deal for them lol
I am sorry, the jubbly is for the queen, there is no reason to see the others as it is not about them. So no queen no jubbly balcony, as it is the, BIG DEAL issue.
“I wonder whether Buckingham Palace is quite difficult to navigate in a wheelchair, and whether the concern in this situation is “how do we get the Queen from Windsor to BP, and then get her on the palace’s top floor?”
You know, it never occurred to me before but I think that there IS a distinct possibility that Buckingham Palace isn’t handicapped enabled. Or the living quarters aren’t and the parts that lead to the balcony. Maybe that’s why they had to move her to Windsor.
As grand as BP is/used to be, it’s pretty damn dilapidated on the inside. Does it even have elevators? If it nothing but stairs, that means it’s not wheel chair accessible.
There are elevators in BP. This has nothing to do with lack of access for those with mobility issues and everything to do with courtiers thinking that the public seeing the Queen as the ailing 97 year old that she is is the worst thing ever. They have mentioned numerous times the optics of the Queen being publicly seen in a wheelchair and how horrific that would be. They even mentioned that the Queen and Courtiers were horrified when poor Princess Margaret, who had recently had a stroke, was brought out in her wheelchair at the Queen Mothers 100th birthday. They genuinely felt that she should be left inside away from public view.
I suspect you are both correct. The palace aides do not want her seen in a wheelchair or as needing any kind of mobility assistance (which is both absurd and abelist).
There is also the reality of a 300+ year old building which has only been made partially accessible (mostly in the public areas of the building). There are windows leading to the balcony, not doors. From the photos I’ve seen, there is a frame at the bottom at the bottom of the windows, which would have to be removed to make it accessible. A scooter/wheelchair can’t go over it (It looks to be too high to just roll over). I suspect that they are too high for her to even be able to safely step over anymore, even with assistance. Removing & replacing those windows with doors may be on the list of renovations that are in process, but if it hasn’t been done yet, she can’t get to the balcony without being carried there.
This is exactly what H&M were talking about. That the roles and what is “required” overtake the actual people involved. And that there are far too many people whose self importance (and often livelihood) depends on the pomp side of things.
Everyone saying this is what must be done. No one saying, that was begun in a different time and circumstances, what honors the times we are in now?
Her eyes are so bloodshot. It’s the first time I notice that. If it is indeed her who refuses to step back from appearances, maybe someone could convince her that it would be best. I’m saying it because she looks frail, and her smile seems… forced, like she is not 100% lucid all the time.
If she IS lucid and wants to be there for these events, AND she can do that without risking her life, why not use the effing wheelchair!
I find her smiles in these photos to be unsettling. I don’t think I have ever seen her smile this big in pictures but her face has an almost child-like feel to it. Like a little toddler aiming to please with a big “say CHEESE!” smile on their face. She’s a woman who has always seemed to value being proper and restrained in her interactions with others. These pictures feel like the total opposite. Harry is right to be concerned.
I notice that as well. She just doesn’t look like herself.
The cane/wheelchair issue is interesting. Of course, the most famous person who wouldn’t appear in a wheelchair was FDR, because he/his advisors thought it would make the President of the U.S. look weak. This, of course, was in the 1930’s and 1940’s, but obviously we have not come as far as we need to (which makes Prince Harry’s Invictus Games so great and important). I think the balcony episode should be canceled. There is no reason it MUST be included. Just no flexibility in this antiquated monarchy.
If the other “nonworking” RF members are taking part in celebrations then it shouldn’t be a big deal if H&M do. If it is strictly “working” royals then what would be the point of H&M attending?