Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
QUEEN’S SORROW
Health fears after she suffers bad back Her ‘regret’ over armistice absence
AS the haunting sound of Last Post swirled around the Cenotaph, a sense of concern also filled the air at the Queen’s last-minute absence from the Remembrance Day service she had been determined to attend.
And Buckingham Palace moved to dampen fears over the 95-year-old monarch’s health after she missed the event due to a strained back.
Courtiers said she was “deeply disappointed” not to be at the commemorations to honour war dead. It would have marked her first in-person public engagement since she was advised to rest following a night in hospital last month.
She also missed COP26 and Saturday’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Royal aides announced the Queen would not attend yesterday’s armistice day service just 90 minutes before Last Post sounded.
Prince Charles stood in for his mother and laid her wreath along with his own at the Cenotaph. War veterans, their numbers
dwindling with each passing year, marched along Horse Guards Parade, saluted by Prince William and watched by other royals including Kate, Camilla and Sophie Countess of Wessex.
The poignant commemorations were repeated up and down the UK as military personnel past and present took part in parades.
While they had gathered to honour heroes of battle, many also had their minds on the Queen’s health after she was advised against making the 25-mile car journey from Windsor Castle to Central London. RAF nurse officer Stephen Andor said: “I wish her well. She is the head of the Armed Forces. I think every single member of the military wishes her well.”
Lance Corporal May Percival added: “My heart goes out to her and her family.”
A royal source said yesterday: “It is obviously incredibly unfortunate timing and nobody regrets the Queen’s absence today more deeply than Her Majesty herself.
“She is deeply disappointed to miss the engagement which she regards as one of the most significant engagements of the year.
“She hopes to continue as planned with her schedule of light official duties next week.”
But royal author Ingrid Seward said that despite the assurances, watchers will still fear for the Queen’s health.
She added: “Many will be wondering if we are being told the full story. There are very few dates cemented in the Queen’s diary and the Cenotaph is one of them, which must add to her disappointment to miss such an important occasion. “Communications from Buckingham Palace regarding Her Majesty’s recent health have been criticised in recent weeks which will add to the anxiety for many people. “Of course, the Queen has a right to privacy, especially on health matters, but the public have a right to know how our head of state is.”
The Palace came under fire for not announcing the Queen had been admitted to a London hospital for “preliminary investigations” for an unknown medical condition until after she left.
Boris Johnson last night said he had recently seen the Queen and added: “I just wanted to reassure everybody by saying she’s very well.”
Officials said the decision to stop the monarch attending the service was made after consultation with royal doctors, who advised that standing for a period of time after the journey would cause her further discomfort. Officials declined to comment on whether the Queen’s injury was caused by a fall.
It is understood she did not receive hospital treatment and it is unrelated to recent medical advice for her to rest. Advisers are expected to issue a photo or video of her holding an audience in the near future, in a bid to reassure a nation increasingly concerned about her health.
Buckingham Palace will take a “mindful approach” when organising her diary for the next few months.
But she will not be present at the inauguration of the new General Synod tomorrow, the first
time since the ceremonies began in 1970. Prince Edward will represent her instead.
Last Tuesday, the Queen had returned feeling “refreshed” from a five-day break at her Norfolk home in Sandringham and had been “utterly determined” to make yesterday’s service.
She has only missed six other armistice ceremonies during her reign, four while abroad and two due to pregnancy. The first was in 1961 and the last before yesterday in 1999.
At the Cenotaph, Charles, who celebrated his 73rd birthday yesterday, appeared teary-eyed and emotional as he led the nation in silent tribute as the clock struck 11am. As he laid his wreaths, Mr Johnson and Labour leader Keir Starmer solemnly looked on, along with former PMS Theresa May, David Cameron and Gordon Brown.
The rendition of God Save the Queen was notably loud as the crowds of spectators joined in with gusto.
The oldest and youngest people marching at the parade had a gap of 90 years between them.
Veteran Roy Farmiloe, 98, was the oldest while eight-year-old Evie Hebden was one of a number of children at the event.
Shortly before her birth, her Royal Marine dad Ralph Hebden, 32, died after falling from a cliff near their home at Arbroath, Scotland in 2013.