Queen Elizabeth has sent a message from Windsor Castle to be delivered by her youngest son, Prince Edward, at the 11th General Synod of the Church of England.
Prince Edward represented the royal family at the event on Tuesday and delivered her address.
Prince Edward delivers Queen Elizabeth’s address to the General Synod. Image: Getty Images
“It is hard to believe that it is over 50 years since Prince Philip and I attended the very first meeting of the General Synod,” she said in her speech, referencing her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
“None of us can slow the passage of time; and while we often focus on all that has changed in the intervening years, much remains unchanged, including the Gospel of Christ and his teachings.”
The Queen’s comments come after her most recent health troubles – which saw her cut back on public appearances – and comments in her COP26 video message to world leaders that “none of us will live forever”.
Queen Elizabeth delivering her address to the General Synod over the years. Image: @theroyalfamily (Instagram)
“It’s interesting that during a time when the Queen has been unwell we have had two addresses from her which have included lines that remind us that no-one is immune to the ageing process,” a royal insider told 9Honey.
“Her recent spate of ill health and her having to rest is a reminder that she is 95, and even though we have been so used to seeing her carry out her duties in a way that belies her age, of course that can’t go on forever.”
Her Majesty also mentioned the “weariness” people have felt during the pandemic in her speech to the General Synod, noting how many have relied on their faith during this period.
“Of course, in our richly diverse modern society, the wellbeing of the nation depends on the contribution of people of all faiths, and of none,” she said.
“But for people of faith, the last few years have been particularly hard, with unprecedented restrictions in accessing the comfort and reassurance of public worship. For many, it has been a time of anxiety, of grief, and of weariness.”
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Catherina, Duchess of Cambridge, attend the Remembrance Sunday commemoration in London. Image: @theroyalfamily (Instagram)
Though the monarch intended to attend Remembrance Sunday commemorations at the Cenotaph in London, she was forced to pull out on the day due to a back sprain.
It is unknown whether her back injury has been the cause of her most recent rest period, hospital visit, and public use of a walking stick for the first time in 17 years.
However, the palace has only confirmed that the Queen’s condition is not related to COVID-19.
Image: @theroyalfamily (Instagram)
This article first appeared on Over60.