Queen Elizabeth may already be halfway through her 90’s but she still feels too young and spry for the Oldie of The Year award.
The 95 year old recently turned down the award, saying she doesn’t meet the ‘oldie’ criteria based on her belief that “you are only as old as you feel“.
She “politely but firmly” declined the award, but sent a message with her “warmest best wishes“.
Chairman of the awards, Gyles Brandreth, wrote a letter to the Queen’s secretary, Sir Edward Young, to ask if she’d be happy to receive the main Oldie of the Year accolade.
But in a response, which was published in the November issue of Oldie, her assistant secretary, Tom Laing-Baker, wrote: “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 will find a more worthy recipient.”
The Queen has turned down an Oldie of the Year Award saying she believes “You are only as old as you feel,” and as such “didn’t believe she met the relevant criteria” @OldieMagazine pic.twitter.com/Cjht1QTZE0
— Emily Nash (@emynash) October 19, 2021
Brandreth mentioned that one of the judges suggested the Queen for the award due to her leadership during the pandemic and in anticipation of the jubilee.
As the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, The Queen will celebrate 70 years on the throne at her Platinum Jubilee next year.
The award instead went to French-American actress, dancer and writer Leslie Caron, aged 90, who is one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.
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Since 1992 The Oldie magazine has held the Oldie of The Year Awards, which celebrate the achievements of those from older generations who’ve made a special contribution to public life.
Previous winners have included Oscar and Nobel Prize winners, nurses and athletes, including Sir Peter Thomas Blake, Dame Olivia de Havilland and Ken Dodd.
The late Prince Philip won the award in 2011, marking his 90th birthday. When the Duke of Edinburgh won the award he responded:
“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.
“But it is nice to be remembered at all.”
The Queen’s husband of 73 years passed away in April aged 99.
