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 Elizabeth, the world's longest-reigning living monarch, and
her husband Prince Philip, 95, both suffering what the Palace
described as heavy colds this week, delayed the journey to their
Sandringham country residence in eastern England by a day,
traveling there by helicopter on Thursday.
The queen has attended the Christmas service at the parish
church of St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham every year since the
family started celebrating Christmas there in 1988.
Before then, the family spent Christmas at Windsor where
Elizabeth attended a service since the mid-1960s. It was unclear
if Elizabeth had ever missed a Christmas Day service before.
Philip was driven to church and walked in unaided, a Reuters
photographer said, while Prince Charles, heir to the throne,
walked to the church with his wife Camilla and other members of
the family.
"The queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay
indoors to assist with her recovery," a palace spokesman said.
"Her Majesty will participate in the Royal Family Christmas
celebrations during the day."
Elizabeth's other children, Anne, Andrew and Edward attended
along with Prince Harry, Charles's second son. Prince William,
second-in-line to the throne, was spending Christmas with the
parents of his wife, Kate.
After more than six decades on the throne, the Queen has cut
back on international tours but still regularly performs
official duties around Britain, although she said on Tuesday she
would reduce such visits.
While Elizabeth's father, George VI, died at the relatively
young age of 56, her mother, known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen
Mother, lived until 101 and was still appearing in public almost
up until her death in 2002.
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"GREAT LOVE"
Elizabeth has maintained the popularity of the monarchy despite
years of political, social and cultural change since she became
Queen Elizabeth II on Feb. 6, 1952, aged just 25.
In a pre-recorded Christmas broadcast, she invoked the example of
Jesus and quoted the words of Mother Teresa to praise those who she
said did small things with love.
"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with
great love," Elizabeth said. "It's understandable that we sometimes
think the world's problems are so big that we can do little to
help."
"On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the
cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be
bigger than we imagine."
Elizabeth, the symbolic head of the Church of England, noted that
despite Jesus's humble beginnings and maligned life, billions of
people - including her - rely on his teachings and draw inspiration
from his example.
The Times reported on Wednesday that Philip carried out more public
engagements last year than did his grandsons William and Harry, and
William's wife Kate combined.
(Additional reporting by Adela Suliman; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge;
Editing by Louise Ireland and Robin Pomeroy)
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