Queen uses lift for first time for State Opening of Parliament as she arrives for speech
THE Queen avoided the stairs and instead chose to take the lift for the first time for the State Opening of Parliament.
The Queen avoided the stairs for the first time in Parliament
Her Majesty has never asked to use the stairs for the State Opening before but today opted for the lift ahead of her speech.
Today marks the Queen’s 63rd State Opening just weeks after she celebrated her 90th birthday.
It’s believed the Queen was forced to use the lift due to problems with her knees.
By taking the lift the monarch and Prince Philip avoided the 26 steps of the Sovereign’s Entrance staircase.
The decision to use the lift has been described as the most public concession to her age yet.
Although publicly the Queen has showed no signs of slowing down her knees have suffered as a result of carrying out hundreds of engagements each year.
The Queen put the younger generation of the Royal Family to shame by carrying out more engagements than the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry combined in 2015.
But years of royal duties have seen the monarch undergo two operations to remove cartilage fro her knees.
It’s believed the Queen was forced to use the lift due to problems with her knees
The State Opening of Parliament is the formal start of the parliamentary year
The Queen and Prince Philip make their way through the Royal Gallery
She has also given up riding because of chronic pain and it’s believed a lift has been installed at her Sandringham home
In keeping with the pomp and splendour of the State Opening a number of soldiers in full dress uniform lined the stairs of the Sovereign's Staircase.
But the Queen and Prince Philip bypassed them to take the lift and walk straight into the Robing Room where she put on the Royal Robes and the Imperial State Crown ahead of the ceremony.
The crown was moved from the Tower of London this morning and was first worn by Queen Victoria for her coronation in 1838.
The Queen wore the Imperial State Crown for her 63rd State Opening of Parliament
The Queen arrived in Diamond Jubilee State Coach
This will be the 63rd occasion on which The Queen has opened Parliament #StateOpening pic.twitter.com/CP5nYNk5y0
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 18, 2016
The Queen using a lift rather than stairs to enter Palace of Westminster is perhaps most public concession to age
The State Opening of Parliament is the formal start of the parliamentary year- traditionally an MP is ‘held hostage at Buckingham Palace until the Queen returns- today it was Vice Chamberlain Kris Hopkins.
As the Queen's Speech trended on Twitter, social media users were quick to comment on the Queen's decision to use the lift.
One user said: "The Queen using a lift rather than stairs to enter Palace of Westminster is perhaps most public concession to age/injury yet."
Another added: "HM THE QUEEN having difficulty with stairs, today she will use the lift. Its the first time anyone has shown her any sympathy for her age."
A much quicker route, mind! The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrive by lift and straight into the Robing Room: pic.twitter.com/Zn5Ehz4XaI
— James Brookes (@james_elliott_) May 18, 2016
All the boys waiting for Queen to come up the stairs and she goes and takes the lift. #StateOpening. What a bummer ! pic.twitter.com/1niHAQfLbY
— Anthony Lawless (@ALGALWAY) May 18, 2016
The Queen using a lift rather than stairs to enter Palace of Westminster is perhaps most public concession to age/injury yet. #StateOpening
— Mike (@mijath) May 18, 2016
Can the Queen keep wearing the heavy robe, crown at #StateOpeningofParliament? She just swapped stairs for a lift pic.twitter.com/oZv3hRYPbT
— Patricia Treble (@PatriciaTreble) May 18, 2016
The last time the Queen used a lift in Parliament she surprised some members of the House of Lords.
Using the Sovereign’s Lift the Queen and Prince Philip were trying to leave a reception on the first floor of the Palace of Westminster.
Instead of going down to the ground floor the couple were surprised to find themselves going up two floors to the parliamentary archives.
After three false starts the couple were able to get out and walk too their waiting car.