Queen pulls out of annual Maundy Day church service for the first time

Kate Buck and James Cheng-Morris
·2 min read
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II takes part in the Royal Maundy Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, west of London on April 18, 2019. - Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. The Queen commemorates Maundy by offering 'alms' to senior citizens - retired pensioners recommended by clergy and ministers of all denominations, in recognition of service to the Church and to the local Community. Each recipient receives two purses, one red and one white. (Photo by ARTHUR EDWARDS / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read ARTHUR EDWARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
The Queen at the Maundy Day service in Windsor in April 2019. Her Majesty will not be attending this year's service. (Getty)
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The Queen has pulled out of attending the annual Maundy Day church service and will be represented for the first time by the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace has said.

The monarch, 95, was due to attend the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor on the Thursday before Easter Sunday.

It has been reported the Queen, who has been experiencing mobility issues, was unable to commit to the event, which is an important fixture in the royal calendar.

With the order of service being printed, she was said to be keen for the arrangements to be confirmed to avoid any misunderstanding or the day to be overshadowed.

That means it will be Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall who will attend in her place.

Watch: Queen and senior royals gather in remembrance of Philip

The annual service has been cancelled for the past two years due to COVID-19.

Her Majesty last attended the event in April 2019 when she was accompanied by her granddaughter, Princess Eugenie.

The Queen has faced a number of health challenges in recent months, including being diagnosed with COVID-19 in February.

Read more: Queen sits with her family at Philip's memorial one year on from loneliness of lockdown funeral

TOPSHOT - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves after attending a Service of Thanksgiving for Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey in central London on March 29, 2022. - A thanksgiving service will take place on Tuesday for Queen Elizabeth II's late husband, Prince Philip, nearly a year after his death and funeral held under coronavirus restrictions. Philip, who was married to the queen for 73 years, died on April 9 last year aged 99, following a month-long stay in hospital with a heart complaint. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Queen leaves after attending a service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip. (Getty)

She has increasingly withdrawn from public life, having been put on a doctors’ order to rest since October, having cancelled a run of engagements and spent a night in hospital undergoing preliminary tests.

While she attended a service commemorating the life of the Duke of Edinburgh last week - her first official engagement outside of a royal residence in nearly six months - Her Majesty has largely been taking part in virtual events as part of her duties as head of state.

The monarch, who reached her Platinum Jubilee in February, is set to celebrate her 96th birthday on 21 April.