With only one day till the State Opening of Parliament, the issue is whether Queen Elizabeth will attend or skip it for the third time in her reign.

The Queen traditionally starts Parliament in a ceremony that brings together the three branches of the British government: the House of Lords, the House of Commons, and the monarchy. The Queen delivers a speech after arriving in a State coach and often wears formal robes and the 3-pound Imperial State Crown, but she has opted for a lighter diadem or one of her distinctive wide-brimmed hats in recent years.

However, due to health concerns and mobility issues, the Queen, who is 96 years old, has missed numerous significant events in recent months.

During her 70-year reign, the Queen has only missed the State Opening of Parliament twice: in 1959 when pregnant with Prince Andrew and in 1963 while pregnant with Prince Edward.

If Elizabeth is unable to attend the celebration on Tuesday, her successor Prince Charles is expected to take her place. In recent years, Prince Charles has attended the ceremony with his mother, occasionally accompanied by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Last month, the Queen made a trip from Windsor Castle to her Sandringham estate to celebrate her 96th birthday.

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