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Queen Elizabeth may be a seriously tough cookie, following a schedule that would make people half her age balk. But Her Majesty is 95 and sometimes even she needs to take a breather.
After a gruelling few days of high-profile engagements, which included hosting a major global investment summit at Windsor Castle, the queen has been ordered to take a break by her medical staff and to cancel a planned two-day trip to Northern Ireland.
“The queen has reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days," a palace statement said. "Her Majesty is in good spirits and is disappointed that she will no longer be able to visit Northern Ireland, where she had been due to undertake a series of engagements today and tomorrow."
The monarch, who was spotted using a walking stick on two occasions this month, is still expected to attend events linked to the Cop26 climate change conference at the end of this month, which is set to be held in Glasgow.
It's easy to imagine Her Majesty's disappointment at being told to put her feet up. To her, age is clearly nothing but a number.
READ MORE | No more martini, ma'm! Doctors advise queen to quit her daily tipple
The Oldie, a light-hearted British magazine catering for older people, reveals they recently wrote to her office to ask if she would accept the Oldie of the Year award. She turned them down flat.
In a letter to the magazine, her assistant private secretary, Tom Laing-Baker, replied: "Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such the queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept, and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient."
The Oldie of the Year awards are presented annually to celebrate the achievements of members of the older generations who have made a special contribution to public life.
The magazine believed that, with the queen's platinum jubilee next year, she would be the perfect recipient.
Speaking after they were turned down, Gyles Brandreth, chairman of the awards, said, "Perhaps in the future we will sound out Her Majesty once more."
Her Majesty's attitude to the award is in stark contrast to that of her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was Oldie of the Year in 2011 when he celebrated his 90th birthday.
“There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame," Prince Philip quipped in his letter of appreciation. "But it is nice to be remembered at all."
READ MORE | The queen steps out for the first time with a walking stick
The queen's daughter-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, attended the award ceremony on Tuesday and handed out awards such as the Oldie Champion Knitter of the Year and Truly Scrumptious Oldie of the Year.
Camilla praised the advantages of growing older, highlighting "watching one's children growing up; enjoying one's grandchildren — knowing that they'll be going home after the visit; finding more time to read; finding time to read The Oldie — and coming to jolly lunches like this one".
Sources: BBC.com, theguardian.com, people.com, the oldie.co.uk
