95-year-old Queen Elizabeth declines 'Oldie of the Year' title
Britain's 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth, who has reigned over
her nation for almost seven decades, says she feels too young at heart be
awarded the title "Oldie of the Year", an aide has revealed.
Organisers of the annual tongue-in-cheek awards – whose
previous recipients include Oscar-winning actors, Nobel laureates, and the
queen's own mother who died aged 101 in 2002 – had approached the monarch to
see if she would consider accepting the honour herself.
But broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, the chairman of the awards
run by the Oldie Magazine, said they had received a "lovely letter"
sending her warmest best wishes but declining the offer.
"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," said the letter from
Tom Laing-Baker, the monarch's assistant private secretary.
Elizabeth follows in the footsteps of her late husband
Prince Philip, who died in April aged 99. A decade ago he turned down the
chance of winning the award, which has been running for 29 years to celebrate
the contributions to public life from the older generation.
"There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded
that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to
drop off the ancient frame," Philip said according to Brandreth. "But
it is nice to be remembered at all."
This year's ceremony still had a royal seal of approval
though, as Camilla, the wife of Elizabeth's son and heir Prince Charles, was
there to present the awards.
"Long live The Queen! Perhaps in the future we will
sound out Her Majesty once more," Brandreth wrote on the magazine's
website
Source CNA
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