Queen Elizabeth II,
the nominal ruler of the United Kingdom, has turned down the ‘Oldie of the Year’
award, an award given by The Oldie magazine, because, in her opinion, she at
the age of 95, did not meet the criteria, reports AFP.

“Her Majesty
believes you are as old as you feel, as such The Queen does not meet the
relevant criteria to be able to accept, and hopes you will find a more worthy
recipient,” the Queen’s assistant private secretary wrote to the publication. The
reply was published in the magazine’s latest issue.

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Gyles Brandreth,
author and broadcaster who chairs the awards, wrote to the Queen a few months
ago on whether she would accept the award. Her husband, the late Duke of
Edinburgh, received the award in 2011. Upon receiving the letter, Brandreth described
the Queen’s letter as lovely adding, “Perhaps in the future we will sound out
Her Majesty once more.”

The 95-year-old
Queen Elizabeth II is the country’s longest-reigning monarch and has spent 70
years as Queen.    

The Oldie of the
Year award goes to people of the older generation who have made significant
contributions to their field. Previous winners of the award include veteran
athletes, community care nurses as well as popular figures such as the artist
David Hockney and the late actress Dame Olivia de Havilland.

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The Queen’s name
for the Oldie of the Year award was suggested by Dame Maureen Lipman, one of
the judges for the award, who said that the Queen should receive the award for
her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Queen Elizabeth II’s
husband of 73 years Prince Philip, who passed away at the age of 99 in April,
had received the award on his 90th birthday. At the time, Prince
Philip had said: “There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the
years are passing — even more quickly — and that bits are beginning drop off
the ancient frame. But it is nice to be remembered at all,” the BBC reported.