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The monarch, 95, declined the award as she believes “you are only as old as you feel”. Royal biographer Angela Levin said the Queen turning down the accolade could be a hint she is not going to step down from her duties.
Ms Levin tweeted: “I think that the Queen’s comment that you are ‘as old as you feel’ is also a nudge to let us all know she is not going to step down as monarch.”
In an earlier post, the royal author praised Her Majesty for her comments as she politely refused the award.
Ms Levin said: “Absolutely wonderful. The Queen is absolutely spot on.”
Author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, chairman of the awards, wrote to the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Edward Young, to ask if she would accept the Oldie of the Year trophy.
But in a letter published in the November issue of The Oldie magazine, her assistant private secretary, Tom Laing-Baker, wrote: “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 Duchess of Cornwall joined Mr Brandeth for The Oldie’s awards ceremony at The Savoy hotel in London on Tuesday.
Mr Brandreth said that actress Dame Maureen Lipman, one of the judges, raised the prospect of the magazine honouring the Queen in recognition of her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and ahead of her Diamond Jubilee.
He described the letter he received from Balmoral Castle in response as “lovely”, writing: “Perhaps in the future we will sound out Her Majesty once more.”
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In the end, the main Oldie of the Year award went to French-American actress and dancer Leslie Caron, who at 90 is five years younger than the Queen.
Former England footballer Sir Geoff Hurst, 79, won the Oldie Golden Boot of the Year and cook Delia Smith, 80, was honoured with the Truly Scrumptious Oldie award.
In a speech, Camilla, 74, joked about the downsides of ageing, saying: “I think those of us who have already passed our three score years and ten have to acknowledge that there are certain disadvantages to growing older.”
She added: “There are times, I know, when we all experience those senior moments.
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“But there are advantages to growing older, too – 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.”
The Queen, who is just five years away from her 100th birthday, is the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.
She is due to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee – 70 years on the throne – next year.
The head of state still keeps a busy diary of events and audiences and deals with her daily red boxes of official papers.
Last week, she used a walking stick for what is believed to be the first time at a major public event.
The late Prince Philip was named Oldie of the Year in 2011 to mark his 90th birthday.
The Duke of Edinburgh joked in a letter: “There is nothing like it for morale to be reminded that the years are passing – ever more quickly – and that bits are beginning to drop off the ancient frame.
“But it is nice to be remembered at all.”
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