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Queen Elizabeth to Miss Commonwealth Meeting


Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she awaits the arrival of the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Windsor in England, April 30, 2013.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she awaits the arrival of the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Windsor in England, April 30, 2013.
Britain's Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth will not attend the Commonwealth heads of government meeting this year.

The palace said Tuesday it will be the first time the 87-year-old monarch has missed the meeting since 1971.

The queen is sending her son, Prince Charles, to represent her at the gathering in Sri Lanka in November.

Observers say the move is seen as a reflection of the monarch's age and her efforts to reduce her long-distance travel.
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