Queen, 93, pulls out of annual visit to Sandringham Women’s Institute branch because she has a cold
THE Queen was forced to pull out of her annual visit to the Sandringham branch of the Women's Institute today after she was struck down with a cold.
Her Majesty cancelled her trip to the meeting in Norfolk at West Newton village hall with just 30 minutes notice because she was "not feeling up to it".
The 93-year-old monarch usually joins the WI ladies for tea and cake, then listens to a speech, which was made this year by BBC newsreader Huw Edwards.
But around half-an-hour before her expected arrival at West Newton Village Hall on Thursday, a member of her security team told assembled reporters and photographers that she will not be coming this year.
They told waiting media the Queen was "not feeling up to it".
The Queen has attended the WI group's meetings since 1943 and took over as President from the Queen Mother, who in turn took over from Queen Mary.
ROYAL FAMILY DRAMA
Today's cancellation comes after a tumultuous few weeks for the Royal Family which saw Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit as royals.
Harry sat down with his grandmother to thrash out details of the so-called Megxit - with it decided the couple would pay back the £2.4m of taxpayer money spent on refurbishing Frogmore Cottage.
They will also live in Canada part-time.
Announcing the decision, the Queen said the pair,and their eight-month-old son Archie, would "always be much loved members" of her family.
She said: "I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.
"I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.
"It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life."
It came after Prince Andrew was forced to step down from public duties last year after his disastrous Newsnight interview in which he failed to show empathy to the victims of his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein.
But he attended church with the Queen at Sandringham as the monarch beamed following the conclusion of discussions over the future of Harry and Meghan.
The Duke is said to have been a “tower of strength” behind the scenes in the last two weeks and has been supporting his parents in their hour of need.