Anais Cordoba, with AFP 4:14 p.m., May 10, 2022

On Tuesday, for the first time, Prince Charles delivered the traditional speech from the throne in Parliament in place of his mother Elizabeth II.

The queen had given up on the advice of her doctors.

A speech which marked, on the political level, the will for Boris Johnson to revive, a few days after heavy setbacks in the local elections.

"Historic moment" in the United Kingdom: Prince Charles gave the traditional speech from the throne in Parliament on Tuesday in place of his mother Elizabeth II, the queen having given up on the advice of her doctors.

Bringing a new sign of the transition underway for the British monarchy under the effect of the health problems of the nonagenarian sovereign, it was Prince Charles who arrived in Parliament while the anthem

God Save the Queen sounded

.

The 73-year-old heir to the crown, in a decorated uniform, then read, on behalf of the Queen, the speech setting out the government's program at the opening of the parliamentary session.

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Prince William present for the first time

He sat on the throne reserved for the consort, symbolically smaller than that of the monarch.

At his side was his wife Camilla, 74, and his eldest son, Prince William, 39, who was present for the first time, further proof of a change of generations that is taking place.

The crown was placed on a cushion.

It is only the third time in her 70-year reign that the 96-year-old head of state has missed this solemn appointment of British democracy.

Pregnant, she had been absent in 1959 and 1963. It is also the first time that the Prince of Wales, who has already represented her abroad for several years and is taking a growing place, replaces her.

The Queen decided not to take part in the speech 'reluctantly'

The Queen had long hoped to attend before Buckingham Palace announced on Monday evening that she had "reluctantly decided not to take part in the Speech from the Throne", due to her "episodic mobility issues".

Signs, for the

Daily Mail

, that the queen "is still really in charge": "But make no mistake, this is a historic moment for the Crown".

His absence raises questions about his participation in early June at the platinum jubilee celebrations, marking his 70 years of reign.

Last week, the Queen warned that she would not be attending this summer's royal garden parties at Buckingham Palace.

Her most recent public appearance was at the March 29 memorial service for her late husband, Prince Philip, who died aged 99 last year.

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A desire to revive for Boris Johnson

On the political level, this speech marks the will for Boris Johnson to revive, a few days after heavy setbacks in the local elections.

Triumphantly coming to power in July 2019, the conservative leader has seen his popularity plummet in recent months, against a backdrop of a purchasing power crisis, criticism of his handling of the pandemic and the "partygate" scandal which earned him a fine, a first for a head of government in office.

The speech opened with a pledge to 'strengthen the economy and help help the cost of living' in the face of soaring prices hitting households, with millions of Britons who no longer eat their fill.

The text includes measures likely to appeal to the conservative base, in particular laws intended to reduce red tape after the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, which became fully effective last year.

Government wants to change human rights law

The government also wants to prevent the "guerrilla techniques" of groups like Extinction Rebellion, hated by its base, which demonstrated by blocking roads or public transport "harming hard-working people, costing taxpayers millions of public money. and putting lives at risk."

In order to be able to deport foreign criminals more easily, the government wants to modify the legislation relating to human rights.

If he has managed to save his post for the moment in the context of the war in Ukraine, the bubbling 57-year-old leader will try to win back disappointed voters for the two years he has left before the next legislative elections.

His speech will present 38 bills.

Opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer, also criticized for sharing beers and curries with a team from his party last year, added pressure on his shoulders by pledging to resign if he receives, as the Prime Minister, a fine for having broken the anti-Covid rules.