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Queen's Christmas message was recorded before she fell ill – palace Queen's Christmas message was recorded before she fell ill – palace Royal couple's illness changes Sandringham Christmas travel plans
(35 minutes later)
The Queen recorded her annual Christmas speech before falling ill, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The Queen and Prince Philip have left Buckingham Palace and are being flown by helicopter to their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, after their initial Christmas plans to travel by train were cancelled because of ill health.
On Thursday, the monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh were continuing to recover from heavy colds which prevented them from travelling the day before to a Christmas break in Norfolk. Sky News broadcast live footage claiming to show the helicopter on its way to Norfolk.
Buckingham Palace was due to provide an update on the health of the two senior royals and whether they planned to travel to their Sandringham estate in time for Christmas. A spokesman would only confirm to the Press Association that the couple had left Buckingham Palace.
A spokeswoman confirmed that the Queen’s Christmas speech would be broadcast as usual at 3pm on Christmas Day. “It is recorded sometime in advance,” a spokeswoman said. Earlier, a spokeswoman confirmed that the Queen’s Christmas message would be broadcast as usual at 3pm on Christmas Day. “It is recorded sometime in advance,” the spokeswoman said.
The couple had been expected to travel from London to King’s Lynn by train on Wednesday and then on Sandringham. The couple had been expected to travel from London to King’s Lynn by train on Wednesday and then on to Sandringham.
But 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.”But 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 Thursday, a spokeswoman said: “We have got no update at the moment, but you should hear something later this afternoon. We will confirm either way whether or not they plan to travel 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.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 the 95-year-old duke were surrounded by their family on Tuesday when they hosted their annual Christmas lunch for dozens of relatives at Buckingham Palace. The monarch and the 95-year-old duke hosted their annual Christmas lunch for dozens of relatives at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
The Prince of Wales did not mention the health of his parents in his Thought for the Day message, which was broadcast on Thursday morning. He had recorded his remarks about the rise of populist extremism on Monday.The Prince of Wales did not mention the health of his parents in his Thought for the Day message, which was broadcast on Thursday morning. He had recorded his remarks about the rise of populist extremism on Monday.