Heirs to the British throne, Princes Charles and William, took center stage at the May 10 parliamentary opening ceremony. They replaced the 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II. This was the first time such a development had taken place in nearly six decades.

Due to mobility issues that have kept her out of public view lately, the queen was forced to miss the event. Charles, 73, arrived at the Palace of Westminster to read the government's legislative agenda in her place.

The ceremony has already undergone some changes lately due to the queen's venerable age - she hasn't worn a heavy crown and ceremonial attire in several years, and the format has been narrowed due to the coronavirus.

The queen had only missed the opportunity to give a speech twice during her 70-year reign - in 1959 and 1963.

Now the King needed to issue letters patent to allow Charles and William to perform her role at the constitutional event.