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Queen attends an engagement a day

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Despite her advancing age, the Queen keeps herself busy by attending at least one official engagement each day

Despite her advancing years the Queen has continued her busy working life – carrying out, on average, at least one official engagement each day of 2010.

Figures published in The Times newspaper indicate the 84-year-old monarch conducted 387 visits, opening ceremonies and other engagements in 2010 – 12 more than she was involved with in 2009.

Long past retirement age, summer is the Queen’s busiest season, and includes attending the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Royal Ascot, Trooping the Colour and three garden parties at Buckingham Palace.

Her winter calendar programme has included attending the Royal Variety and Film Performances, along with broadcasting her annual Christmas message to the nation.

In November, with the Duke of Edinburgh, she was involved in a five-day state visit to Abu Dhabi – the couple’s second state visit to the UAE, the first having taken place in 1979.

The aim of the visit was to help strengthen Britain’s ties with the region.

The Duke also had a busy year, notching up 308 official engagements in 2010.

The busiest Royal was the Prince of Wales, who was involved with a total 499 official engagements throughout the year, including opening the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi in September.

Prince William carried out 73 engagements, which included 45 overseas, and Prince Harry 53, which included 38 overseas.

Tim O’Donovan, who compiles a survey of the official engagements undertaken by the Royal Family each year, says except for Christmas Day and Easter Day, the Queen never has a day off from the official red boxes which pursue her everywhere.

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