The Queen will not attend the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, missing another key event in her calendar, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The monarch, 95, will instead send a message to the congregation and will be represented by the Prince of Wales after a decision was taken not to attend in person.
The service, which will take place on March 14, is very close to her heart and usually sees her celebrate her “family of nations” with music, poetry and speeches in her role as head of the Commonwealth.
The Queen is not currently ill, but is known to have suffered mobility problems. It is understood that the decision was taken for her comfort, bearing in mind the car journey from Windsor to Westminster Abbey and the hour-long service to sit through.
Although the Queen was described as being on “great form” for an engagement on March 7 – when she invited Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister for an in-person audience at Windsor – she was recently seen using a walking stick.—AP
