Queen's Surprise Visit a 'Very Positive' Sign for Attendance at Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II has made a surprise public appearance to open a new railway named after her, raising hopes she will play a prominent role in her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The 96-year-old monarch has been experiencing what Buckingham Palace has called "episodic mobility problems" significant enough to mean she could not attend the State Opening of Parliament, when she traditionally sets out the government's annual agenda.

Yet on Tuesday the queen officially opened the long-anticipated Elizabeth Line at Paddington Station, central London.

It was her second in-person visits outside of royal palaces within days, arriving hot on the heels of a trip to the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Sunday.

"Definitely things are looking up," Ingrid Seward, author of Prince Philip Revealed, told Newsweek. "I think she's off to Scotland for a few days to rest now. She always does go up this time of year. It's very positive."

The jubilee weekend could be a busy time for the 96-year-old Monarch, the longest reigning in British history, and taxing for her health as a result.

Celebrations kick off on June 2 with Trooping the Colour, the queen's birthday parade, which is expected to include a balcony appearance, carriage procession and ceremony.

A service of thanksgiving for her reign is scheduled at St Paul's Cathedral, London, the next day, followed by a royal visit to the Epsom Derby for horse races on June 4, with a concert at the palace set for later that evening.

On June 5, the jubilee should end with a bang as thousands take to the streets outside Buckingham Palace for a pageant, where there is a possibility of a second royal balcony appearance too.

Seward said she believed the queen might attend events on all four days, but would likely miss the concert as it is "not really her thing."

She said: "I think she will definitely do Trooping the Colour. I don't think she will go to the ceremony, I don't see how she can. But she will definitely do the balcony appearance.

"Then the next day we have the service of thanksgiving, she will definitely want to do that. And then obviously she would love to do the derby. She just loves it so much.

"I would be very surprised if she made the concert but I think that what she will try and do is make another balcony appearance after the pageant on the Sunday.

"I would think that very much depends on how she gets on."

However, it may be the public do not get to know which events the monarch will attend in person until the last minute because Elizabeth's health problems are episodic.

Boris Johnson told guests after the queen's visit to the new railway: "We're all incredibly touched and moved and grateful to her Majesty for coming to open the Elizabeth line today. It was fantastic to see her."

Victoria Murphy, a royal expert and contributing editor for Town and Country, tweeted that Elizabeth was "looking on great form out and about," and suggested that "confirming her attendance at engagements only at the last minute will now be the norm."

Sarah Hewson, royal editor of TalkTV, also tweeted of the visit, that the queen was "smiling and back on her feet." "Given her recent mobility problems, her attendance wasn't expected, although organisers had been told she might."

In a May 9 statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow."