Doctors give Queen green light for trip
THE Queen flew to Sandringham with her doctors’ approval yesterday to plan her first family Christmas without late husband Prince Philip.
She was “delighted” at being given the all-clear to start organising the festive get-together, after several days of resting inWindsor Castle.
The 95-year-old monarch had spent one night in hospital last month, following tests described as “preliminary investigations”, and later pulled out of visits to Northern Ireland and the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow.
She is expected to spend her minibreak staying at Wood Farm on the Norfolk country estate. It is where her husband – who died aged 99 in April – lived for much of his final years after retiring from public life in 2017.
The Queen is said to be “totally committed” to hosting her extended family for Christmas, after withdrawing temporarily from official public duties on her doctors’ orders.
A royal source said yesterday: “The Queen had been hoping she would still be able to spend the weekend at Sandringham and was delighted her doctors gave her the all-clear to travel.
Cautious
“Her Majesty is very much looking forward to hosting her family at her Norfolk home for the Christmas holiday and there is much preparation to be done in time to accommodate everyone who has been invited.
“The Queen has many happy memories of being at Sandringham with the family over Christmas and was in the firm belief that she was far better off being there in person to oversee everything as much as possible.
“But she travelled on the understanding with her doctors that she continues to rest as advised.” The Royal Standard will
still fly at Windsor, denoting the monarch’s primary residence and where the royal court is based.
The Queen will return shortly to Windsor Castle, where she and the Duke of Edinburgh spent last Christmas without other family members due to coronavirus restrictions.
Buckingham Palace aides had said medics took an “understandably cautious approach” to her hospital admission. Doctors later advised Her Majesty to take complete rest – even her daily walk with her dogs was off limits, and she has given up riding for the winter.
But she has continued with “light duties” at her Windsor desk, as well as taking part in video call meetings and welcoming ambassadors virtually.
The Queen was represented at the Glasgow conference by her son Prince Charles and grandson Prince William.