Military-style operation to take Queen to Philip memorial ‘without being seen in a wheelchair’

Within the military operation reportedly planned to take the Queen to Prince Philip’s memorial in Westminster Abbey – as “the Queen understandably does not want to be seen in a wheelchair”.

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A two-metre-high privacy screen, a helicopter and a football tunnel could all be used in a military operation to take the Queen to Prince Philip’s memorial while protecting her privacy, they say.

The 95-year-old monarch is said to be determined to attend the memorial service for her late husband, who died in April aged 99, despite the event at Westminster Abbey coming at a time she has been forced to move recently from multiple engagements.

One of them was Monday’s Commonwealth Day service, also at the Abbey, with the decision to cancel her performance related to her “convenience” of making the 26-mile journey from Windsor Castle to London and attending the event survive, and not with a specific disease.

The 95-year-old monarch has been dealing with increasing mobility issues in recent months, leaving her struggling to get around “on certain days”, according to palace sources.

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And now The sun Buckingham Palace officials are reportedly considering a variety of surgeries to get her into the Abbey – and preventing photographers from taking a picture.

Sources told how senior palace aides are considering taking the Queen to Buckingham Palace by helicopter from Windsor Castle.

The helicopter ride took just 15 minutes and staff then drove the monarch the short distance from the Palace to the Abbey and cordoned off the entire Dean’s Yard to prevent anyone approaching before parking the car by a side door.

Although she was up for personal appointments in Windsor just last week, it is reported that her closest associates are concerned at the prospect of Her Majesty walking the 100 meters from the Abbey entrance to her seat.

Sources told the Sun that options such as two-metre-high privacy screens or a football-style tunnel are being considered to prevent photographers from snapping a shot of the Queen getting out of the car.

The Queen is believed to be determined to go further and is believed to have scrapped the idea of ​​using a wheelchair.

But it is reported that the option was considered by her aides-de-camp to allow her to move around the abbey comfortably – with the aging queen being taken to her place in the sanctuary at Poets’ Corner before a short walk.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told the newspaper: “Understandably, the Queen does not want to be seen in a wheelchair.

“But as a head of state and someone who wants to be seen and needs to be seen, she could do without a wheelchair. The best way to do this is to make sure no photos are taken.”

She added: “She would really hate to miss it. It’s a headache for their employees as it would be difficult for anyone their age who suffers from mobility issues. It would be a painful process for them.”

Another option under consideration is to have the Queen ready in her seat before the rest of the audience arrives for the memorial ceremony, and for the sake of her convenience, forego the tradition of the monarch arriving last.

A source told the Sun that t The Queen has told her staff that she does not want to use a wheelchair.

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However, she has agreed to receive help to enter through the abbey’s side entrance quickly enough.

There, they said, she can privately exit the car with her walking stick while “ Efforts are being made to keep photographers away.”

They add: “If she needs the wheelchair, it has to be behind screens or once she’s in the side entrance.”

In the meantime, television stations are being asked to be considerate in their reporting.

The source added that the aides believe this is the only way the Queen can get into the abbey and that the process should take place outside of the public eye.