Queen Elizabeth II is making the case for the old adage that age is just a number. The monarch, 95, declined an “Oldie of the Year” from The Oldie magazine, and gave a response that many can’t help but smile at.
“Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such the Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept and hopes you find a more worthy recipient,” Tom Laing-Baker, the Queen’s assistant private secretary, wrote to the magazine in a letter.
The Queen, 95, has turned down an Oldie of the Year Award, saying you are only as old as you feel and she doesn’t believe she fits the criteria. pic.twitter.com/ynITq1VgS2
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) October 19, 2021
Her response seems pretty fitting, given that the magazine prides itself on being “ageless and timeless” and “crammed with rejuvenating wit, intelligence and delight,” according to its website.
Every year, the UK-based magazine bestows an Oldie of the Year award in a ceremony. And although it might not seem like it’s something the royal family would approve of, they’ve been linked to the awards for several years. Yesterday, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, presented awards during the Oldie of the Year ceremony.
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Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Oldie of the Year Awards!
The Duchess of Cornwall presented awards during the ceremony today, which celebrates the best of the older generation. @oldiemagazine pic.twitter.com/hnOEBKABYX
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) October 19, 2021
The duchess isn’t the only royal to have a soft spot for the Oldies — Prince Phillip, the queen’s late husband, was named Consort of the Year at the awards back in 2012. At the time, he wrote: “There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing — ever more quickly,” adding, “but it is nice to be remembered at all.”
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