Queen to miss Braemar Highland games

The Queen will miss the Braemar Gathering on Saturday, the popular Highland Games event which she attends most years.

It is understood the decision has been taken for the comfort of the Queen who has been suffering from mobility problems since last year.

The 96-year-old monarch is currently staying at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire as she does every summer.

Prince Charles is still scheduled to attend the Braemar Games.

He will join spectators for the gathering which attracts crowds from the across the globe who watch competitors take part in the caber toss, hammer throw, and tug-o-war.

In another break from tradition, it was announced earlier this week that the Queen will appoint the new prime minister on Tuesday at her Scottish retreat for the first time in her reign.

During her 70 years on the throne, the Queen has always had an audience with her new prime minister at Buckingham Palace in London.

But Boris Johnson, who will tender his resignation, and the new Conservative Party leader - either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak - will make the 1,000-mile round trip to Balmoral Castle instead.

It is understood that the decision was taken to provide certainty for the new prime minister's diary.

The monarch has been taking her traditional summer break in Scotland with family and guests. She usually stays at the estate from August to October.

As well as ongoing mobility issues in recent months, the Queen had Covid in February this year.

In the past seven months, Buckingham Palace has tended to confirm the Queen's attendance at public engagements on the day, depending on how she is feeling.

During this time she has missed some high-profile engagements, including the State Opening of Parliament, the Platinum Jubilee Concert and the commemorative Derby.