Queen too ill for WI meeting
THE Queen has missed a meeting of her local Women’s Institute after going down with a cold and “not feeling up to it”.
The 93-year-old joined the Sandringham WI in 1943 when she was still Princess Elizabeth, and attends each year as part of her winter stay in Norfolk.
But half-an-hour before her expected arrival at West Newton Village Hall yesterday, a member of her security team said she was unwell and will not be coming this year.
The night’s guest speaker, BBC News At Ten Presenter Huw Edwards, had already arrived at the venue.
Talking ahead of the meeting, Huw said it was “daunting and exciting in equal measure” to have been invited to the event.
Before it emerged the Queen would not be attending, Huw said: “I’m no stranger to public speaking but I think this is a slightly exceptional event so I’m being brave and been thinking carefully about what I might want to say.
“I think a bit like the Prime Minister allegedly before Brexit, I’ve got several options, I’ve got several versions.
“I’m not quite decided yet on what the ultimate message will be but I’d like to talk a little bit about the business I’m in and the way it’s changed over the years and what the challenges are now in terms of journalism and broadcasting.”
He added: “Maybe that sounds a bit serious but I’ll try to do something along those lines.”
Members of the institute welcome a different guest speaker each year, and enjoy tea and cakes.