Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Queen misses New Year's Day church service due to illness

Buckingham Palace says the monarch 'does not yet feel ready to attend' and is still 'recuperating' 

Sunday 01 January 2017 13:04 GMT
Comments
The Queen in the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace for her 2016 Christmas message
The Queen in the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace for her 2016 Christmas message (Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Queen Elizabeth will not attend a New Year’s Day church service because of a heavy cold.

Buckingham Palace said she did "not yet feel ready to attend” and was still “recuperating”.

The 90-year-old had delayed her departure for her rural estate in Norfolk because both she and her husband, Prince Philip, were suffering from colds.

Buckingham Palace confirmed to The Independent the Queen was “up and working” but “was not feeling 100 per cent”.

"The Queen does not yet feel ready to attend church as she is still recuperating from a heavy cold," a spokesperson said.

She did not attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham due to the same illness.

Queen Elizabeth II is the world's longest-reigning living monarch but has announced she will step down as patron of a number of organisations and charities before her 91st birthday.

Other members of the Royal Family will become patrons of organisations including the Holocaust Day Memorial Trust, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Barnardo’s and Save the Children UK.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in