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Queen Elizabeth not attending Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey
The Queen will not attend next week's Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey (File photo: The Royal Family facebook page)

Buckingham Palace has said, the Queen will not attend next week's Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.

According to the BBC, this is usually a significant occasion for the Queen and earlier in the week it had been hoped she would attend.

The message from Buckingham Palace does not mention the health of the 95-year-old Queen, but says not attending the Commonwealth Service on Monday was decided "after discussing arrangements with the Royal Household".

The decision is understood to be about concerns over her discomfort with travelling, rather than illness.

As she told defence staff in a meeting last month: "As you can see, I can't move."

Queen Elizabeth (File photo: The Royal Family official Facebook page)
Queen Elizabeth (File photo: The Royal Family official Facebook page)

The BBC noted, the Queen, who recently recovered from Covid, is said to regret not being able to attend the event celebrating the Commonwealth, in what would have been one of her biggest public appearances of the year so far.

Queen Elizabeth II greets Canadian PM in person after COVID-19 scare

It added that she has been carrying out diplomatic engagements at Windsor Castle, such as meeting the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and is expected to continue with such in-person audiences next week.

Source: BBC