 LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom would not be attending the New Year’s Day service in Norfolk, eastern England, as she was still recovering from a heavy cold, Buckingham Palace said on Sunday. The Queen, 90, had been unable to attend the Christmas Day service at the St. Mary Magdalene Church near her Sandringham residence due to being ill. The Palace said the royal was still suffering from cold symptoms and so had decided she would not be attending the service along with other members of the royal family. Despite the state of her health, the Queen did attend private family Christmas celebrations in Sandringham, where the UK royal family traditionally get together for festive celebrations, media reported. The Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 95, arrived to Sandringham a day later than planned due to them both having colds. Buckingham Palace recently said the Queen would cease being the patron of more than 20 charity organizations before her 91st birthday on April 21. |