Queen Elizabeth Is Set To Miss An Important Part Of Her Platinum Jubilee Celebration

Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebration is just hours away from kickoff, as of this writing. Millions are anticipating a glorious long weekend of festivities to celebrate the queen's historic reign. There will be something for everyone, promises the royal website: For horse-racing enthusiasts, the Derby at Epsom Downs will be a must. For music lovers, there are both classical performances and a pop concert, with a plethora of top talent including Diana Ross and Queen + Adam Lambert. The dazzling beacon chain across the U.K. — a lighting of more than 1,500 torches — will be anchored by the Principal Beacon, a special torch that will be lit in a ceremony led by the queen and Prince William. And for people who just enjoy eating, more than 60,000 folks around the world are hosting "Big Jubilee Lunches" in backyards and parks. 

The weekend will also be notable for four of its attendees: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their two children are all coming to London for the first time as a family to help the queen celebrate. Although rumor has it Harry and Meghan want to hide out for most of the trip and emerge only for specific events, the prospect of having little Archie and Lilibet see their great-grandmother is thrilling to many royals watchers.

But the celebration will be both joyous and poignant — this will be the last jubilee in the queen's lifetime, and her declining mobility has affected her ability to participate in one of the monarchy's oldest traditions.

At 96, Queen Elizabeth is remarkably active and has been carrying out her royal duties with dignity, resolve, and good humor. However, in recent months, her mobility has become an issue, forcing her to cut back on her activities, per Newsweek. This unfortunately includes the Platinum Jubilee weekend. For the first time in her remarkable 70-year reign, the queen will not be participating in the annual Trooping the Colour parade. As ABC News confirms, the monarch will instead appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to receive a salute from the troops.

Trooping the Colour, which falls on June 2 this year, is a 260-year-old military tradition designed to pay tribute to the reigning British monarch on their birthday (per the royal website). Normally, the queen would ride in a carriage to the parade grounds, where she would be saluted by the troops before going down the rows and inspecting the military members. This year, per ABC, Prince Charles will do the honors, along with Prince William and Princess Anne.

Royals fans also love to see the royal family assembled on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the traditional military jet flyby. This year, along with the queen and the Duke of Kent, selected family members are expected to attend. As for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, word has it that they will watch the parade from the Major General's Office, via People.