Canadians fear Queen 'too old' to climb stairs

THE Queen is unlikely to be amused. A bizarre row has seen the octogenarian Monarch pull out of opening a military show amid fears that she is too old to tackle a flight of stairs.

The Queen and Prince Philip were supposed to be addressing the Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo during their tour of Canada this year. But the visit has been scuppered after the event organisers said it was too risky for the Queen and her consort to climb on to the stage – despite being told they were perfectly able to do so.

"The Canadian Secretary said it was the expressed wish of Buckingham Palace (that the Queen go up the stairs] and if we wouldn't allow her to do it, she wouldn't be there," said Ian Fraser, the Tattoo's artistic director.