Queen Elizabeth to miss Christmas church service

Queen Elizabeth II is to miss the Christmas Day church service attended by the British royal family as she continues to suffer from a heavy cold, Buckingham Palace said yesterday.

The 90-year-old, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England, will join in the family festivities later in the day, a spokesman said.

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The royal family traditionally spends Christmas together at her Sandringham private estate in Norfolk, eastern England.

By custom they walk together to and from church, a rare occasion for the public to meet several members of the royal family.

"Her Majesty The Queen will not attend church at Sandringham this morning," a palace spokesman said.

"The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery.

"Her Majesty will participate in the royal family Christmas celebrations during the day."

The monarch and her 95-year-old husband Prince Philip delayed their departure from London to Sandringham from Wednesday to Thursday as they were both suffering from heavy colds.