And She's Off...Queen To Miss The Derby

THE Queen will miss the Epsom Derby for only the fifth time in her reign as she paces herself for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

- Jan Disley

The 96-year-old is expected to watch the big race on TV at Windsor Castle, where she may also be celebrating the birthday of granddaughter Lilibet. The little girl, who turns one on Saturday, was born in the US and has never met her great granny. But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are flying in from their California home with their daughter and son Archie, three, to join the four-day spectacular.

It will be the first reunion the Sussexes have had with the wider Royal Family since they accused an unnamed senior royal of racism. Harry and Meghan did however secretly the meet with Queen and Prince Charles at Windsor last month en route to the Invictus Games in Holland.

Until 2020 and 2021, the Queen had missed the Derby just twice - once in 1956 when she was on a state visit to Sweden and then in 1984 when she was in France for the 40th anniversary of D-Day. This year daughter Princess Anne and her family will represent her at the Epsom racecourse.

The Palace refused to be drawn on the matter yesterday, saying they would confirm "which Royal Family members are attending which events nearer the time".