Queen's job description gets rewritten for the first time in 10 years
For the first time in a decade, Queen Elizabeth has had her official job description rewritten.
In Buckingham Palace's annual report, the 96-year-old monarch's "official duties" have been edited to accommodate her recent health issues.
The report has removed events such as the State Opening of Parliament from the Queen’s official roles.
Previously the Queen’s presence at the event was considered confirmed due to “constitutional convention”, according to Britain’s Daily Express.
Now, the annual report places greater emphasis on the support of the wider Royal Family, stating that, “The Queen is greatly assisted by other members of the Royal Family who undertake official duties on behalf of Her Majesty”.
According to the Express, a Palace source said the change to the job description was not “drastic” but rather a small update.
The change comes after senior members of the royal family have attended events in the place of the Queen for several months amid rumours of her ailing health.
In recent months, the Queen's presence at an event has not been confirmed until the day of the engagement to allow for last minute changes to her condition.
The changes in Her Majesty's official job description also include the editing of the “formal constitutional concept” of Head of State, which previously had a 13-point list of duties the queen “must” undertake, including the State Opening of Parliament, paying and receiving state visits, and the appointment of the Prime Minister.
However, the new version offers a more loose definition, simply noting the queen’s role “encompasses a range of parliamentary and diplomatic duties” and noting only that she “receives” other visiting heads of state.
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