Recovering Queen Skips Another Service

But will sign resolution that could indicate gay-rights support
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 11, 2013 10:25 AM CDT
Recovering Queen Skips Another Service
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves the King Edward VII hospital following a one-day stay caused by a stomach ailment, Monday, March 4, 2013.   (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Still on the mend after a brief hospitalization, Queen Elizabeth won't make it to a celebration of the British Commonwealth today, CNN reports. Still, her health issues are "nothing to fret about," says a Buckingham Palace insider, and in another ceremony tonight, she'll sign a historic document opposing discrimination throughout the Commonwealth's 54 countries. "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief, or other grounds," reads the charter, which the Daily Mail notes that some are taking as a nod to gay rights.

It also comes as the UK looks to tweak ascension law to allow firstborn girls to take the throne, of particular relevance if Prince William and Kate have a daughter. But lest anyone get carried away, "The Queen is apolitical and is signing the document in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth," says a palace insider. Still, she has recorded a message to be played at today's Westminster Abbey event citing "shared values of peace, democracy, development, justice, and human rights." The charter could face challenges in places like Uganda, which bans homosexual acts, notes ABC News. (More Queen Elizabeth II stories.)

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