The Queen is feeling “better” today according to Princess Anne - even though her mother was too ill to attend church at Sandringham .
Anne spoke out in an apparent bid to calm fears over the health of the 90-year-old Queen, who has not been seen in public for nearly two weeks and was forced to miss the Christmas Day service for the first time in 28 years.
Asked how the Queen was as she briskly walked the 400 yards from Sandringham House to the village’s St Mary Magdalene church, Anne replied simply: "Better."
Her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, who was walking with her, was also asked how the Queen was feeling and replied: “Not too bad.”
Buckingham Palace announced shortly before the service that the Queen would not be attending as she was still “recuperating from a heavy cold”.
Royal sources suggested that Queen was “up and about” in Sandringham House, but staying in the warm
It was first officially confirmed on December 21 that the Queen and 95-year-old Prince Phillip were suffering from heavy colds .
Philip, who is known for his robust health, was well enough to walk to church on Christmas morning with Prince Charles, Prince Harry and other family members.
But Philip was driven to the service in a Range Rover today to avoid getting wet in the pouring rain. He was accompanied in the car by Sophie, Countess Wessex.
Prince Edward and his daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 13, chose to walk to and from the church with Anne and her husband.
There was no sign of Prince William and wife Kate who have not been seen at Sandringham during the Royal family’s traditional Christmas break on the 20,000 acre estate in north Norfolk.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and children Prince George and Princess Charlotte spent Christmas with Kate’s parents and other members of the Middleton family at their home in Berkshire
Philip smiled at the crowd and joked about the weather as he emerged from the 16th century church.
As he walked back to Sandringham House, Edward wished a Happy New Year to onlookers, saying: “Let’s hope it gets better. It can’t get much worse.”
A crowd of around 250 people had braved the cold and lashing rain to stand outside the church.
Lynn Willert, 68, a hypnotherapist from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said: “I was very disappointed not to see the Queen, but it is very sensible of her to put herself first and stay indoors.
“Anybody would be worried about illness at her age, but she certainly has this tremendous fortitude. I don’t know how she does it. I think she is our little gem. She has got to look after herself more and not keep pushing on.
“The trouble is that when an elderly person gets a cold, it can turn into pneumonia which can really dangerous. But she is a tremendously strong woman which will get her through whatever she has got.”
Lynn Willert, 68, a hypnotherapist from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said: “I was very disappointed not to see the Queen, but it is very sensible of her to put herself first and stay indoors.
“Anybody would be worried about illness at her age, but she certainly has this tremendous fortitude. I don’t know how she does it. I think she is our little gem. She has got to look after herself more and not keep pushing on.
“The trouble is that when an elderly person gets a cold, it can turn into pneumonia which can really dangerous. But she is a tremendously strong woman which will get her through whatever she has got.”
Horticultural worker John Disdel, 69 of Gedney Drove End, Lincolnshire, said: “I didn’t really expect the Queen to attend. Being wrapped up warm at home is the best place for a 90-year-old who is ill.
“We believe in the Royal family. It’s what it is all about. You can’t read anything into her not being here.”
Mr Disdel’s wife Pam, 63, added: “She has made the right choice by not coming out. We wish her well and hope she soon gets better.”
Catherine Jarvis, 40, of Loughton, Essex, who was at the church with husband Jim, 43, and children Olivia, six, and Henry, four, said: “I had an inkling she would not be coming as she missed church on Christmas Day so it was not much of a surprise to not see her.
“We are just hoping she is OK. She doesn’t have to come out and prove anything to us. Christmas is all about being with your family.”
Alan Mowton, 57, of Fosdyke, Lincolnshire, said: “It is understandable that the Queen stayed away. It is hardly ideal to come out in this weather if you are ill. I hope she is fit enough to come to church another week.”
The service which lasted around an hour and included carols and readings was led as usual by Sandringham rector, the rev Jonathan Riviere.
The rector said prayers for the “gracious Queen” and other members of the Royal family as well as those affected by violence in the Middle East and victims of recent terrorist attacks.
The sermon was given by the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham James who spoke about the importance of the Christmas story in an “unstable and frightening” world.
The Queen and Philip were due to catch a train as usual from London to King’s Lynn to start their Christmas break on December 21, but cancelled their plans at the last minute due to their illness.
Instead the couple were flown directly from Buckingham Palace to Sandringham by helicopter the following day.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman announced the Queen would not be at church in a short statement this morning, saying: "Her Majesty The Queen will not attend Sunday worship at Sandringham today.
"The Queen does not yet feel ready to attend church as she is still recuperating from a heavy cold."
Buckingham Palace was forced to confirm last week that the Queen had not died after hoaxers announced her ‘death’ in a fake BBC Twitter account.
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