Queen Elizabeth II to skip New Year's Day service

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, also was unable to attend the Christmas Day service at the St. Mary Magdalene Church near her Sandringham residence due to her illness, Efe news agency reported.

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 British royal family traditionally gets together for festive celebrations, the media reported.

The Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 95, arrived at Sandringham a day later than planned as they were suffering from heavy colds.

Buckingham Palace recently said the Queen would cease being the patron of more than 20 charity organisations before her 91st birthday on April 21.

--IANS

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