The Queen cancels trip to Northern Ireland on medical advice

20 October 2021, 11:08 | Updated: 20 October 2021, 12:05

The Queen has cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland
The Queen has cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

The Queen has cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland today and has "reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days", Buckingham Palace said.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen has reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days.

"Her Majesty is in good spirits and is disappointed that she will no longer be able to visit Northern Ireland, where she had been due to undertake a series of engagements today and tomorrow.

"The Queen sends her warmest good wishes to the people of Northern Ireland, and looks forward to visiting in the future."

The Queen's decision is understood not to be related to coronavirus.

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It comes just days after the Queen was seen using a walking stick in public for the first time.

The 95-year-old monarch was photographed using a cane whilst attending a service at Westminster Abbey to mark the centenary of the Royal British Legion.

It is thought to be the first time she has used a cane purely for comfort, and not for a specific medical reason.

Queen cancels Northern Ireland trip as doctors say to rest

The Queen has had a busy programme and hosted a major Global Investment summit at Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening, where she looked cheerful as she carried out her royal duties.

She is still expected at this stage to attend events linked to the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow at the end of the month.

The monarch is resting at Windsor Castle.

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On Tuesday, it was revealed the Queen had turned down the Oldie of the Year trophy because she feels she does not meet the criteria, believing "you are only as old as you feel".

The Queen, who is just five years away from her 100th birthday, is due to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee - 70 years on the throne - next year.

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She still keeps a busy diary of events and audiences and deals with her daily red boxes of official papers.

She held two audiences on Tuesday via video link from Windsor Castle, greeting the Japanese ambassador Hajime Hayashi and the EU ambassador Joao de Almeida, followed by the investment summit in the evening.

At the weekend, she enjoyed a day at the races at Ascot, and on Monday held a virtual audience with the new Governor-General of New Zealand.

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The Queen's husband of 73 years the Duke of Edinburgh died in April at the age of 99.

The monarch has been pictured out and about at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and Ascot in the months since, and still enjoys riding her own ponies.