The monarch is set to miss the Braemar Gathering – one of the most anticipated events taking place during the sovereign’s yearly stay in Balmoral – on September 3, sources have claimed. The reason cited for the Queen’s absence is “her comfort”. 

A royal correspondent of a leading British newspaper, Richard Palmer, posted on his Twitter handle, “The Queen won’t be attending the Braemar Games tomorrow, a decision taken for her comfort, I understand. She had originally hoped she would be there.”

Her Majesty’s son and heir, Prince Charles, will be in attendance.

The Queen’s mobility issues would make it uncomfortable for the 96-year-old sovereign to remain seated for a long time, another royal commentator claimed.

Rebecca English tweeted: “The issue would be not just getting her to the games, but the fact that she would have to sit in public for a long period of time to watch them. The games are classed as a ‘private’ event in HMQ’s calendar and not a public engagement.”

While at the event, Charles – known as the Duke of Rothesay north of the border, will officially open the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee Archway. 

The Queen has been experiencing episodic mobility issues for several months now, which have forced her to change her working schedule and, at times, pull out of in-person engagements.

Health fears for the Queen were first sparked on October 20, when it was announced she would no longer travel to Northern Ireland to mark the centenary of the nation but, rather, she would follow her doctors’ advice to rest for a few days.

In the following weeks, the monarch cancelled all her in-person visits outside of palace walls scheduled for the rest of 2021. Among other key events, she missed the reception at the climate change summit COP26 – albeit she sent a video message to attendees – the Opening Session of the 11th General Synod and the Service of National Remembrance at the Cenotaph in November.

• The Express report