Prince Charles sits in for Queen Elizabeth II for Parliament’s opening

Prince Charles: What you need to know Prince Charles is the heir apparent to the British throne. (NCD)

For only the third time in her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II has missed the state opening of Parliament, the annual ceremony in which she lays out her government’s plans for the U.K.

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Instead, her heir, Prince Charles read the speech that listed the 38 bills that the government plans on passing this year, The Associated Press reported.

This is the first time he has sat in for his mother in the ceremony, CNN reported.

>>Previous coverage: Queen Elizabeth II to miss Parliament opening due to mobility issues

The previous times Elizabeth missed the opening of Parliament were in 1959 and 1963 when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

She has recently missed several public engagements after being hospitalized in October for an undisclosed health condition. She also was diagnosed with COVID-19 in February.

>>Previous coverage: Coronavirus: Queen Elizabeth tests positive for COVID-19

The queen missed Tuesday’s ceremony due to “episodic mobility problems,” BBC News reported.

Both Prince Charles and Prince Williams had been given the authority to open Parliament on her behalf.

Prince Charles appeared in full ceremonial uniform, sitting on a throne with the Imperial State Crown placed on a table next to him. He introduced the government initiatives each time saying “Her Majesty’s government will …” CNN reported.

The prince said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s administration will “grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families,” but he did not go into detail about how it will be done as the prices for domestic energy and food continue to rise.

>>Previous coverage: Queen Elizabeth II misses Maundy Thursday service, not expected to attend Easter ceremony

The government says it will also invest in railways and infrastructure; “level up” the opportunities in poorer regions; and will focus on education and health care funding, the AP reported.

Not all of the initiatives listed in the government-written speech were warmly accepted by people living in the U.K.

Human rights groups have already spoken out against the British Bill of Rights that will replace laws that are based on the European Convention on Human Rights. There are also concerns about a bill that would allow “precision bred plants and animals,” and could allow genetically modified food to be produced, which is now banned, the AP reported.

Photos: Prince Charles delivers Queen’s Speech at UK Parliament opening Prince Charles reads the Queen’s Speech next to her crown during the State Opening of Parliament, at the Palace of Westminster in London, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II did not attend the opening of Parliament amid ongoing mobility issues. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)

Photos: Prince Charles through the years Princess Elizabeth holds her son, Prince Charles after his christening in Buckingham Palace. With her seated to the left is Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven, and right is the Prince’s Great Grandmother Queen Mary. Godparents standing from left to right; Lady Brabourne, The Duke of Edinburgh (standing proxy for Prince George of Greece), King George VI, David Bowes-Lyon, the Earl of Athlone (who stood proxy for the King of Norway) and Princess Margaret. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images) (PA Images via Getty Images)

Photo: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1936: Princess Elizabeth sitting on a garden seat with two corgi dogs at her home on 145 Piccadilly, London, in July 1936. (Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images)

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