Queen to skip climate conference
She continues to scale back after hospital visit
LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II has canceled her planned appearance at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, accepting doctors’ advice to rest just days after spending the night in a hospital for tests.
The 95-year-old monarch announced Tuesday that she has “regretfully” decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the reception on Nov. 1. The climate conference runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 and her attendance was meant to kick it off in style and splendor.
“Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the reception but will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message,” Buckingham Palace said.
The news came after the sovereign held virtual audiences Tuesday at Windsor Castle — the first since revelations that her doctors ordered her to rest last week.
The sovereign greeted the ambassadors from South Korea and Switzerland during her first technology-aided appearance since she was driven to London’s King Edward VII’S Hospital on Oct. 20 for “preliminary investigations.” She returned to her Windsor Castle home at lunchtime the next day and has been taking on light duties since.
The queen underwent the medical tests after she canceled a scheduled trip to mark 100 years since the creation of Northern Ireland. The matter was not related to COVID-19.
Her doctors ordered rest last week after the monarch carried out a hectic series of events. She held audiences with diplomats, had a reception at Windsor Castle for global business leaders and attended the horse races at Ascot.
Her hospital visit last week came amid general disquiet about Elizabeth’s health. Days earlier, she was seen using a walking stick at a Westminster Abbey service.