From Elizabeth to Charles A REMARKABLE YEAR

A momentous time in history, 2022 brought celebrations and great sadness at the palace

- Judy Kean

This year will go down in the history books as a year of great significance to the royal family, for both happy and sad reasons.

When 2021 ticked over into 2022, the big event on the royal calendar was the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. After experiencing what Buckingham Palace described as “mobility issues” from October 2021, Her Majesty had cut down on engagements to make sure she was in good health for the celebrations, which were held over a long weekend in June.

While the Queen didn’t attend all events in honour of her record-breaking reign, she was in fine form at those she was present for. She delighted the world and surprised her own family with a hilarious skit she recorded with Paddington Bear that played before the Party at the Palace, and made an unscheduled appearance at the finale of the celebrations, standing alongside Charles and his family on the palace balcony.

Resplendent in a vibrant green hat and coat, she appeared emotional as she waved to the thousands of cheering people crowded into the street below her.

Later that month, the 96-year-old carried out several engagements in Edinburgh before retreating to her beloved Scottish holiday home, Balmoral Castle, to spend the summer relaxing with family.

On September 6, the new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss travelled to Balmoral to be officially appointed to her new role by the Queen because Her Majesty was not up to making the trip to London to do it. In the fi nal photos taken of her, Elizabeth II looked frail but in good spirits. Dressed casually in a tartan skirt and cardigan, she smiled widely as she greeted the new PM.