Royals, without the Queen, attend the Christmas morning service on the Sandringham estate. Left to right: Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor, the Countess of Wessex, Prince Philip, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA

Queen too ill to attend Christmas Day church service

This article is more than 7 years old

Elizabeth II missed royals’ traditional visit to church in Sandringham for first time since 1988 due to ongoing heavy cold

The Queen has missed the annual Christmas morning church service at Sandringham for the first time in almost 30 years as she continues to fight a heavy cold.

Prince Harry arrives for the Christmas Day service at the church of St Mary Magdalene.

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the church for a glimpse of the monarch, including some who had arrived before dawn. She had attended the traditional service at the church of St Mary Magdalene, near the royal estate, every year since 1988.

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday morning that the Queen would not attend the service. A brief statement it said: “The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery.”

It added: “Her Majesty will participate in the royal family Christmas celebrations during the day.”

The 90-year-old Queen and Prince Philip, 95, were forced to fly to their Sandringham estate in Norfolk by helicopter on Thursday after their initial Christmas plans to travel by train were cancelled because of ill health.

Prince Philip was well enough to attend the service. He was accompanied by other senior royals, including Prince Charles and his wife Camilla and Prince Edward and his family.

Prince William is spending Christmas at his wife’s family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a service in nearby Englefield church with their children.

Onlookers wait in vain for the Queen’s arrival at the church near the Sandringham estate. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA

The Queen’s Christmas message will be broadcast as usual at 3pm on Christmas Day, as it was recorded before she fell ill.

The Queen and Prince Philip had been expected to travel from London to King’s Lynn by train on Wednesday and then on to Sandringham.

In a statement on Wednesday, Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have heavy colds, and so have decided not to travel to Sandringham today.”

On Tuesday, it was announced that the Queen would be stepping down as patron from 25 national organisations at the end of her 90th birthday year, with the patronages passing to other members of the royal family.

The monarch and Prince Philip hosted their annual Christmas lunch for dozens of relatives at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.