Charles in charge THE QUEEN'S SECRET PLAN

All hail! The prince has a dress rehearsal for his future role as King of England

- Judy Kean

She may be getting frail and losing her mobility, but make no mistake, the Queen is as sharp as a pin at 96. And she’s proving just how switched on she is, despite her advancing years, by executing what palace sources say is a “masterful” plan to prepare her son Prince Charles to take over her job – and the public to accept him in the role.

Charles has been standing in more and more often for his mother, including at last week’s State Opening of Parliament. The reason given for why the Queen couldn’t make it was “episodic mobility problems”, which have been plaguing her for some months now. She had only missed the ceremony twice before during her 70year reign, when she was pregnant with sons Princes Andrew and Edward.

Heir to the throne Charles, 73, accompanied by his son Prince William, and wearing his full dress uniform, stood in for his mother and read her speech on her behalf. On the previous occasions she has missed the event, her speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. But this time, the Queen asked for the job to be carried out by Charles, which sources say was part of a careful plan she has put in place, abetted by palace aides.

Getting Charles to step up is her way of “softening the edges of transition” as the future king takes on more responsibility before eventually moving into the top job.