Queen misses out with illness as Royal Family attend Sandringham Christmas service

Pic:The royal family arrive at the Christmas Day service on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk 
Royal correspondent(wp/es):

The Queen has missed the annual Christmas Day church service at Sandringham for the first time due to a heavy cold - but was still up and about enjoying the festivities.

Members of the Royal Family attended the ceremony without the Queen who is resting at her private home after becoming ill some days ago.

The Queen has enjoyed her annual Christmas break at her Norfolk residence since 1988, when she moved festive arrangements from Windsor Castle, and every year attended the service at Sandringham's St Mary Magdalene Church.

But the heavy cold, which delayed the monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh's journey from Buckingham Palace to Norfolk a few days ago, has persisted and she remains at Sandringham House.

Yet the monarch has not stayed in bed with her cold but is up and about and would be having Christmas lunch with her family.

Ahead of the service this morning a Buckingham Palace spokesman said the Queen would not be attending.

He added: "The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery. Her Majesty will participate in the Royal Family Christmas celebrations during the day.''

Philip also came down with a heavy cold a few days ago but the hundreds of well-wishers who turned out see the royals make their way to and from church, were treated to the sight of the Queen's consort.

He was joined on the short walk between Sandringham House and the church by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and other members of the family.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, broke with tradition and spent Christmas Day with Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton and her siblings.

They all attended a church service close to the Middletons' home in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury.

William and Kate were photographed walking through the grounds of St Mark's Church in Englefield, where the Duchess' sister Pippa is expected to marry her financier fiance James Matthews in May.

Hundreds of local residents traditionally turn out to see the Queen and her family attend the annual Christmas Day service.

It is thought the Queen has not missed a Christmas Day service at either Sandringham or Windsor Castle, the previous location for the monarch's festive break, in living memory.