PIERS Morgan has tonight led support for the Queen after she announced she’ll miss the COP26 eco-summit on doctors’ orders.
The TV firebrand was among those sharing his concern for the monarch – while a royal expert revealed she “truly hates” missing events.
Presenter Piers tweeted hours after the monarch confirmed she’ll be unable to attend on the advice of her medics.
He said: “I’m now officially worried about the Queen.
“Very unusual for her to miss big events like this.
“Hope she gets all the rest and treatment she needs.”
Meanwhile, expert Richard Fitzwilliams said the monarch will be “very grieved” not to attend.
“There is no question, given the Royal Family’s extraordinary commitment to the environment – particularly from Prince Philip and Prince Charles, and now with Prince William’s Earthshot prize – she will be very grieved to miss being there in person,” he said.
“Any event which the Queen personally attends does have a certain cachet which is irreplaceable.”
Her Majesty, 95, had planned to speak at the conference.
However, she will instead deliver an address to the delegates via a recorded video message.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: “Last year, she made two virtual broadcasts as well as her Christmas speech, all of which were magical and brought a lump to the throat.
“That, perhaps, points to way forward as the Royal Family come to terms, given the fact she is 95, that she won’t be able keep up the same schedule.”
The monarch had 295 engagements during 2019 – and has pursued a punishing schedule following the Duke of Edinburgh’s death, carrying out 120 official appointments in 194 days.
But Mr Fitzwilliams said royal fans are “now looking at a scaling down”, which began when she quit long-haul flights in 2015.
“Her Majesty isn’t someone who will naturally take to slowing down,” he said.
‘SHE’LL BE VERY GRIEVED’
“She knows people want to see her, she knows certain events are particularly important, and if she can possibly make it in person, she will.
“It’s more or less inevitable that there’ll be a very, very careful rethink now.
“However, she truly hates letting anyone down.”
Angela Levin, who penned an official biography on Prince Harry, discussed the Queen’s absence on talkRADIO.
“She’s pivotal to anything she goes to – she’s got this charisma where people admire her so much they’ll come to say hello and shake her hand,” Ms Levin said.
“She’s hugely respected.
“Countries which are not particularly interested in our monarchy think she’s extraordinary.”
She said the decision for the Queen not to attend “takes the gloss” off COP26.
“We’re lucky to have Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and William and Catherine going as well, because they can bring a different atmosphere, but it’s not the same,” she said.
ORDERS TO REST
“If she’s not there you notice very much that she isn’t.”
The Queen’s decision to follow her doctors’ advice comes after she backed out of a planned trip to Northern Ireland – her first cancelled royal duty in 15 years.
A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace tonight said: “Following advice to rest, The Queen has been undertaking light duties at Windsor Castle.
“Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the Evening Reception of COP26 on Monday, 1st November.
“Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the reception but will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message.”
The Queen recently spent a night in the hospital.
Medics carried out preliminary tests, but she was later discharged from hospital in “good spirits” and was said to be keen to get back to her desk.
The hospitalisation has fuelled concerns she is facing exhaustion from the number of engagements she has attended since the death of her husband in April.
Her hospital stay was kept a secret and only confirmed by the Palace when it was revealed by The Celeb Report.
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It was believed her medical team acted out of caution to have her admitted to King Edward VII hospital in Marylebone on Wednesday.
Officials say the overnight stay — her first in a hospital for eight years — was for practical reasons, and unrelated to coronavirus.
The monarch is being looked after by the Medical Household, her expert team of royal physicians.
Royal sources claimed she was “knackered” as a result of her punishing schedule, coupled with a busy social life and late-night TV.
But the monarch herself shot down her doubters last week by refusing an Oldie of the Year award.
She said she “doesn’t meet the relevant criteria”, cheekily adding: “You are as old as you feel.”
