The Queen misses church on Christmas Day

The Queen will miss Christmas Day service today for the first time in 30 years

(photo NASA press photo via Wiki Commons)

The Queen will not be attending church at Sandringham on Christmas Day as she continues to recover from a heavy cold. The official announcement came as the Royal Family made its way to the first service of the day.

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The statement 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 Royal Family Christmas celebrations during the day.'

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Earlier in the week, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh put back their plans to travel to Sandringham by 24 hours because both were ill with heavy colds. Instead of taking the train, as she normally does, the Queen went to Norfolk by helicopter.

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This will be the first time in 30 years that the Queen has missed church at Sandringham at Christmas and it comes at the end of a sad week for the Royal Family after it was announced that Zara Tindall and her husband, Mike, have lost the baby they were expecting.

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The Royal Family made their first appearance of Christmas Day 2016 walking to the first service, with Prince Philip leading the walk. They will appear in public again later.