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Queen Elizabeth II Skips Christmas Service To Recover From Cold

The 90-year-old has been recovering from a "heavy cold," according to Buckingham Palace.

By: Lauren Stephenson

Posted at 12:56 PM, Dec 25, 2016

and last updated 2022-09-14 16:52:50-04

Queen Elizabeth II did not attend a Christmas Day church service with the royal family this year.

The 90-year-old has been battling a "heavy cold" and decided to "stay indoors to assist in her recovery," according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.

This is reportedly the first time in 28 years of spending the holiday at her Sandringham, England, estate that the queen has missed a Christmas service.

The queen and her husband, Prince Philip, were going to take a train to the country estate for the holidays. They announced last week they would delay their trip because they were both dealing with colds. They ended up taking a helicopter to the estate Thursday.

The queen did make a Christmas Day appearance on TV screens and social media. Her annual Christmas address went on as planned since it was previously recorded.

Other members of the royal family, including Prince Philip and Prince Charles, attended the Christmas service in Sandringham.

Prince William, Princess Catherine, Prince George and Princess Charlotte spent Christmas with the Middleton family this year.

Last week, Buckingham Palace announced the queen would be stepping down as patron of 25 charities and passing on those responsibilities to other members of the royal family. She has been patron of over 600 charities.