Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth attends Christmas service

Dec 27, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

Britain's Queen Elizabeth recovered from her cold to attend the Christmas Day (25.12.12) church service in Sandringham.

The 86-year-old monarch - who was too ill to attend a service on Sunday (23.12.12) - looked in good spirits as she and many other members of the royal family went to the St Mary Magdalene Church near their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, East Anglia.

Following tradition, the queen made the short journey to the church from Sandringham House in a Bentley with granddaughters princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and she was met by around 1,000 well-wishers.

Her husband Prince Philip - who was forced to miss the service last year because of a heart problem - walked the few hundred yards from the house to the church, accompanied by the Duke of York and the Earl and the Countess of Wessex, while other members of the family also walked.

After the service, the queen was handed flowers by children who had waited outside patiently.

However, three noticeable members missing from the day's festivities were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine - who are expecting their first child together - spent Christmas Day with Catherine's family while Harry is fighting on the frontline in Afghanistan.