The Queen won’t be attending this weekend’s Braemar Gathering, according to royal insiders, who claim that the decision was made for her “comfort” even though Prince Charles, who usually goes with her, would still be there.
The Mail on Sunday claimed last weekend that Her Majesty had been “seriously contemplating” whether she was well enough to attend the ceremony as worries about her mobility challenges deepen. The late decision followed that revelation.
The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar hosts the Highland Games, which are often a highlight in the monarch’s calendar and frequently visited by the Queen and the current prime minister.
However, royal insiders today stated that there were two key concerns with the Queen’s attendance: first, getting her to the games; second, the length of time she would have to remain in public while watching them.
Her Majesty’s schedule classifies the Games as a “private” event rather than a public activity. The 96-year-old queen is said to have first thought she would attend.
This year’s tournament will include tug-of-war and caber-tossing matches amongst competitors in front of an audience for the first time since the epidemic began.