When Prince Philip unveiled a plaque declaring Arsenal's new stadium open, onlookers might have been forgiven for feeling a little confused - as the inscription declared it was the Queen, not her husband, who had done the honours.
It transpired that the Duke of Edinburgh had stepped in to represent the 80-year-old monarch after she was forced to cancel on doctors orders. Prince Philip quickly consoled those disappointed by his wife's no-show on Thursday, however, by assuring dignitaries that in him they were getting "second to her the most experienced plaque unveiler". "The Queen asked me to tell you all how very disappointed she is not being able to come here today," he added. Doctors have told Her Majesty to take it easy after she strained a muscle in her back.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was particularly understanding of the Queen's predicament. "We know about injuries in our job, we know it can happen," he said. Prince Philip, 85, seemed happy to step in at the last moment for his wife as he chatted to the team's captain Thierry Henry and met newcomer Theo Walcott at the £390-million Emirates Stadium in Islington, North London.
Famed for her robust health the 80-year-old monarch rarely cancels engagements, but she has been struggling with her back for a fortnight since injuring it while on holiday at Balmoral. "Doctors have advised Her Majesty to reduce her workload today and will review her progress on a daily basis," said a spokesman.
Despite her painful condition, the dedicated royal still met ambassadors from Namibia and Belgium on Thursday, clocking up her 150th and 151st royal engagements this year. Last week she soldiered on with her discomfort during a trip to three Baltic states in just four days. "She managed in the Baltics because it was walking mainly on level ground," said one aide. "But there are quite a few steps at the Arsenal stadium and that could be really jarring."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
