The Queen misses Christmas church service at Sandringham due to illness

THE Queen will not attend church at Sandringham this morning as she is recovering from a heavy cold, Buckingham Palace says.

It is the first time in nearly 30 years she has not gone to the Christmas church service.

4

4

Crowds had already gathered in Sandringham, her Norfolk estate, in expectation of seeing The Queen attend the service.

The 90-year-old monarch and her husband Prince Philip, 95, have gone to St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham every year since 1988.

Other members of the Royal family - including Prince Philip and Prince Harry - have attended the service.

4

Prince Philip walked with Prince Charles from Sandringham house to the church for a private mass at 9 am - the first of the services the Royal Family attend.

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge are celebrating Christmas with the Middleton family in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

related stories

'THEY ARE AN INSPIRATION'

The Queen praises 'unsung heroes' and Team GB stars in her Christmas Day speech

ROYAL baby TRAGEDY

Zara and Mike Tindall lose their baby as Queen's granddaughter suffers heartbreaking miscarriage

ma'am's the word

PM Theresa May SHOULD discuss her plans for  Brexit with 'disappointed' Queen, say Tory MPs

ONE IS DIS-MAY-ED

Queen 'frustrated' by Theresa May’s failure to share Brexit plans during first Balmoral overnight stay

The Queen had already delayed her annual Christmas visit to Sandringham after suffering from a heavy cold.

But they were well enough to travel from Buckingham Palace by helicopter to the Queen's home near King's Lynn in Norfolk on Thursday.

4

Buckingham Palace said: "Her Majesty The Queen will not attend church at Sandringham this morning.

"The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery.

"Her Majesty will participate in the Royal Family Christmas celebrations during the day."

The news comes after it was announced The Queen, whose annual Christmas speech is being broadcast later, was planning to step down as patron of 25 organisations to ease her workload.

A festive tradition she loves

THE Queen has spent Christmas at Sandringham every year since 1988 — but the tradition goes much further back. She started in 1952, the year she became Queen, following in the footsteps of her father George VI and grandfather George V. But she moved to Windsor Castle in 1964 as her family had grown too big. She still spent every New Year at Sandringham but then moved back for Christmas in 1988 when the castle was rewired. She stays until after the anniversary of her father’s death — February 6 1952.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368