The (London) Daily Telegraph’s Chief Reporter reported on 7 April 2013 that the monarch is “starting to take account of her age” and is likely to scale back the extent of her overseas trips.
For the first time in 40 years, the Queen is set to miss the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka after Buckingham Palace confirmed it is reviewing the long-haul flights taken by the Monarch.
Gordon Rayner, The Telegraph’s chief reporter, says the move is important given the Queen’s long-standing involvement in the Commonwealth.
“The Commonwealth is one of the Queen’s proudest achievements of anything she has done during her reign.
“So for her to not go is quite a significant moment, and I think it marks a step-change in the way that the Queen is going to be carrying out her royal duties,” he said.