Charles and William to take on duties with Queen set to miss State Opening

The Prince of Wales is to open the UK Parliament in a historic and unprecedented move after the Queen pulled out of the ceremony for the first time in nearly 60 years.

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that the Queen would not attend the event following advice from her doctors due to her continuing to experience “episodic mobility problems”.

Instead, Charles will take up the constitutional duty, including delivering the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lords.

The Duke of Cambridge – who is second in line to the throne- will also be attendance in his first state opening.

As Charles, 73, takes on the head of state’s major constitutional duty for the first time, the move will be interpreted as a symbolic and significant shift in his responsibilities as a future monarch.

A source said Charles was “of course ready to support Her Majesty the Queen”.

The State Opening of Parliament is the main ceremonial event of the parliamentary year.

For over 500 years, it has served as a symbolic reminder of the unity of Parliament’s three parts: the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The Queen’s Speech is written by the Government and sets out its agenda for Parliament’s new session.

A spokesman for Number 10 said: “The Prime Minister fully respects the wishes of Her Majesty and is grateful to the Prince of Wales for agreeing to deliver the speech on her behalf.”