Why the Queen won't be wearing her crown this year

For the first time in more than 40 years, Queen Elizabeth will not be wearing her crown to the annual state opening of Parliament this year.

This week Buckingham Palace announced there would be "reduced ceremonial elements" at the annual event on June 19, People magazine reports.

Instead of travelling to Westminster Abbey in the usual horse-drawn carriage, the 91-year-old monarch will travel there by car. And, for the first time since 1974, she will not be wearing her Imperial State Crown to the ceremony, the palace said. The jeweled headdress, featuring a 317-carat diamond, weighs about 1.5kg. 

The crown is still expected to appear at the state opening ceremony but instead be carried into the House of Lords by officers of state along with other such instruments, including the Sword of State and the Cap of Maintenance. 

The state opening is taking place later this year due to the recently called general election in the UK. But because of the delayed ceremony, the annual Order of the Garter parade and service at Windsor Castle, in which the Queen usually leads plumed knights including her grandson Prince William, has been cancelled.

While this is said to be one of the Queen's favourite periods, including the week of horse racing at Royal Ascot, it is understood it was important for the Queen to put state business first, a royal source told People. 

The official celebration for the Queen's birthday, Trooping the Colour, will take place two days before the state opening.

There is also expected to be less ceremonial fanfare due to the accelerated timetable as it was deemed this would put the ceremonial assets, including the horses and troops, under too much strain.