Charles takes queen's place at Parliament's opening ceremony

For the first time in nearly 60 years, Britain’s 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was forced to miss Tuesday’s opening of Parliament due to health concerns, instead offering long-time heir Prince Charles the chance to play the role of the monarch as rumors continue to spread about who will ultimately succeed to the throne.

The State Opening of Parliament is a monumental spring-time affair steeped in history and lush with pomp and pageantry and traditionally embodies the centuries-old separation of power between the Crown, the legislature and the judiciary, Reuters reported.

Normally, the queen travels from Buckingham Palace to the assembly in a State Coach, escorted by mounted soldiers dressed in ceremonial uniform, while the Imperial Crown and other regalia travel ahead in a separate carriage. Upon arriving, the queen, normally having donned the Robe of State, leads a procession to the upper chamber where she formally opens a new session of parliament, reading a speech written by the government outlining its legislative plans.

Although the queen has not missed the monumental day in parliament in nearly six decades, the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch and has been absent from nearly all of her public responsibilities in recent months due to recurrent mobility issues – relying instead on Charles to perform her state duties.

On Tuesday, Charles -- who previously attended parliament’s opening alongside the queen –donned an admiral’s uniform and read out the morning’s agenda from a throne, utilizing a formal and neutral tone (often utilized by the queen) in order to avoid any sense of partiality.

The queen is expected to make public appearances during the four days of celebration in June to mark her Platinum Jubilee. Although Buckingham Palace reported last week that she was planning on attending most events during the days of celebration, it noted her presence would not be confirmed until the day of the specific event.