Queen Elizabeth II will miss the Braemar Gathering, a popular Highland Games event that is being held in Scotland this weekend.
Members of the royal family usually attend the sporting spectacle rooted in Scottish tradition and are pictured enjoying themselves as feats of strength, dexterity and stamina are staged.
But the queen, who has been suffering from mobility problems since last autumn, will not attend. It is understood the decision was taken for her comfort.
Prince Charles will join spectators on Saturday for the gathering, which attracts crowds from the around the globe who watch competitors take part in the caber toss, hammer throw, and tug-o-war.
In another change with convention, on Tuesday the queen will appoint the new prime minister at her Scottish retreat of Balmoral for the first time in her reign.
The 96-year-old monarch traditionally holds audiences with outgoing and incoming premiers at Buckingham Palace.
But Boris Johnson, who will tender his resignation, and the new Conservative Party leader who will be asked to form a government, either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak, will make the 1,600-kilometre round trip to Balmoral Castle for the key audiences instead.
Queen Elizabeth II meeting new prime ministers – in pictures
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Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, Britain September 6, 2022. Reuters -
Queen Elizabeth II welcomes newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson at Buckingham Palace, London, where she invited him to become UK prime minister and form a new government in July 2019. PA -
Queen Elizabeth with Theresa May in 2016. PA -
The queen and David Cameron shake hands at Buckingham Palace when he became prime minister in 2010. PA -
The queen greets Gordon Brown at the palace in 2010. After five days of negotiations, a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government was confirmed, with Mr Brown resigning as PM. Getty Images -
Newly re-elected prime minister Tony Blair shakes hands with Queen Elizabeth in 2005. Getty Images
