Queen Elizabeth II has been given the all-clear to travel by her doctors. Reportedly “delighted” by the news, the 95-year-old monarch wasted no time at all, flying directly – via helicopter – to Sandringham Estate. Sources reported that, “The Queen had been hoping she would still be able to spend the weekend at Sandringham and was delighted her doctors gave her the all-clear to travel.”
While at Sandringham, the Queen will remain on light duties only, keeping her busy with relatively easy, desk-based tasks. “Her Majesty is very much looking forward to hosting her family at her Norfolk home for the Christmas holiday and there is much preparation to be done in time to accommodate everyone who has been invited,” sources added.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to be in attendance for Christmas this year, after festivities were cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
HRM’s trip to Sandringham comes after weeks of waiting, due to health issues that delayed her planned stay.
On October 12, the Queen was spotted using a walking cane at the Thanksgiving Service for the Royal British Legion, held at Westminster Abbey. Before this, HRM hadn’t been seen with a cane since a knee operation in 2004.
Next, the British monarch lost her daily cocktail, being told she was no longer allowed to have her regular evening martini.
Then, the Queen was advised to walk less, and to formally cut back on the number, size and length of each of her engagements, or to be far pickier about which engagements she will attend, to preserve her energy and health as she heads into her Platinum Jubilee year.
Following this was the shock last-minute cancellation of the Queen’s trip to Northern Ireland. On the morning that she was due to depart, The Palace released a statement that the Queen had “reluctantly accepted medical advice” to stay home instead.
The statement read: “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.”