LONDON (Reuters – Britain’s heirs-to-the throne Prince Charles of Great Britain and Prince William were the stars at the parliament opening on Tuesday. They replaced Queen Elizabeth, 96, who was unable to attend the spectacular set-piece for the first-time in six decades.

Charles, who is 73 years old and was forced to report to the Palace of Westminster Monday because of a recurrence of mobility problems, read the legislative agenda of the government.

Charles had been with his mother to the opening of Parliament in recent years. He began reading each bill out by saying “Her Majesty’s Government will …”..”

State Opening of Parliament, an extravagant event, sees the Queen travel to the Assembly in a State Coach, followed by soldiers dressed in ceremonial uniforms, and the Imperial State Crown, and others, in their carriages.

After putting on the Robe of Stat, the monarch leads a procession up to the House of Lords where she takes a seat on a throne.

The occasion has been missed by the queen twice in her 70 year reign, once when she was pregnant with Edward and Andrew, and again in 1963.

After being hospitalized for one night in October with an unknown illness, the queen had to issue a “Letters Patent” to authorize Charles and William for her participation at this constitutional event.