Harry and Meghan tipped for balcony photo-op with Queen

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A bumper bank holiday weekend has been planned to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but whether or not the Queen, 96, will attend all the major events remains uncertain. The Queen has been experiencing episodic mobility problems, and now her appearances at public engagements are usually confirmed much closer to the time. But it already seems unlikely that the Queen will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs this weekend.

The Sunday Times reported that Princess Anne, the Queen’s only daughter, will represent the Queen at the Epsom Derby this weekend.

Buckingham Palace has not confirmed this yet, so certainty over the Queen’s attendance at the event will likely not come until nearer the time.

But if the Queen does not attend the Derby, she will miss out on what was widely regarded to be her personal highlight during the celebratory weekend.

As a renowned horse breeder and owner, the Queen has attended the Epsom Derby throughout her reign and has yet to clinch victory at the prestigious fixture.

The Queen was also due to be greeted by a special guard of honour including up to 40 of her past and present jockeys at Saturday’s event.

As for the Queen’s attendance at events over the rest of the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend, the Queen is currently resting at Balmoral in Scotland in preparation.

The Queen is expected to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour on Thursday alongside other working members of the Royal Family.

On Friday, the monarch is likely to attend the Service of Thanksgiving being held in honour of her long life and reign at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Saturday’s Platinum Party at the Palace is expected to have a royal guest list, but it is thought the Queen will watch the concert from the comfort of her home at Windsor Castle.

And on Sunday, many are hopeful the monarch will appear on the balcony for a final appearance after the Pageant finishes to wave to the crowds with other royals.

Despite experiencing episodic mobility problems for some time now, the Queen has appeared in good spirits at engagements over the last few weeks.

The Queen appeared at the Platinum Jubilee Celebration at Windsor and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this month, arriving at the latter in a luxury Royal Household buggy.

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But the monarch has had to withdraw from key engagements such as the State Opening of Parliament in early May, to which she sent Prince Charles as her deputy.

As the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, the Queen has been a familiar face to the public throughout the last seven decades and her public appearances were plentiful, even as the Queen reached her early 90s.

So many were concerned when the Queen spent a night in hospital in October last year and subsequently missed the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow and the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in November.

The Queen also missed the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March of this year, but she delighted royal fans by appearing in person at Prince Philip’s memorial service a few weeks later.

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