Queen Elizabeth's Scaled-down Jubilee
24 November 2009
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth wants her Diamond Jubilee celebrations to be low-key.
The 83-year-old monarch will celebrate 60 years on the throne in 2012 but sources say events will not be as grand as they were in 2002 for her Golden Jubilee.
A source said: "There has been a clash of opinion at the Palace between the queen and her courtiers.
"They had hoped the queen would travel around the country to see her subjects, but she is not prepared to undertake an itinerary like last time."
In 2002, the queen - who was described as "frail" when she appeared at the State Opening of Parliament last week - carried out an extensive tour of the UK, Canada, Australia and the Caribbean, but courtiers have been told to come up with a new itinerary with less overseas travel.
It is also thought she wants son Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and grandsons Princes William and Harry to take over many of the duties.
There has been a clash of opinion at the Palace between the queen and her courtiers.They had hoped the queen would travel around the country to see her subjects, but she is not prepared to undertake an itinerary like last time.
The source added to Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper: "The idea is that Charles and Camilla, and William and Harry will travel around the country on her behalf.
"The queen wants a low-key Diamond Jubilee largely because Britain has just been through a recession."
A Palace spokesman said of the celebrations - which will also coincide with the 2012 London Olympics: "We're not speculating on plans for the Diamond Jubilee at this stage, but it is entirely untrue to suggest that the queen has requested not to travel overseas in 2012 or, indeed, to reduce her UK
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