The 95-year-old matriarch and monarch rejected the honor of “Oldie of the Year’ from Britain’s The Oldiemagazine, The Associated Press reported. The publication shared a letter sent by the Queen’s private secretary, Tom Laing-Baker, politely declining the title while demonstrating she still has quite the cheeky sense of humor. “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 letter reads. It was signed “with Her Majesty’s warmest best wishes.” Since the Queen rejected the title, Oldie gave their Oldie of the Year honor to French-American actress and dancer Leslie Caron, age 90. Previous Oldie of the Year honorees included the Queen’s late husband Prince Philip, who accepted the title of Consort of the Year in 2011 when he was 90 years old, writing in a letter, “There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing—ever more quickly—but it is nice to be remembered at all.” Hollywood icon Olivia de Havilland was also previously given the Oldie of the Year title. The Duke of Edinburgh passed away in April, just months shy of his 100th birthday. Havilland died in 2020 at age 104. Though the Queen turned down the title, at least one member of the royal family was on hand to celebrate the magazine’s annual honor: Duchess Camilla Parker-Bowlesreportedly attended The Oldie awards luncheon, which doles out titles including Truly Scrumptious Oldie of the Year and Champion Knitter of the Year. Camilla, 74, said in a speech, “Now, this is a room rich in history, so an appropriate setting for this year’s Oldie of the Year Awards, which recognize the achievements of a range of remarkable older people who have made a special contribution to the world and who all—in the words of your founding editor, Richard Ingrams —‘still have snap in their celery.’ Famously, Abraham Lincoln said, ‘Whatever you are, be a good one.’ And I think we can agree that, whatever they are, today’s winners are very good ones indeed. My warm congratulations to all of them.” She added that some of the joys of aging include “watching one’s children growing up; enjoying one’s grandchildren—knowing that they’ll be going home after the visit; finding more time to read; finding time to read The Oldie—and coming to jolly lunches like this one.” Next, get the scoop on Season 5 of The Crown!
