Queen cancels Northern Ireland trip and is told to rest
Buckingham Palace says monarch has ‘reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for next few days’
The Queen has cancelled a planned two-day visit to Northern Ireland after advice from her doctors that she should “rest for the next few days”.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “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 95-year-old monarch is resting at Windsor Castle, where on Tuesday evening she welcomed business leaders, tech entrepreneurs and politicians to a reception after the government’s investment summit. Among guests she greeted, alongside the prime minister, Boris Johnson, was the Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
It is understood the Queen’s decision to rest is not related to Covid. There is no guidance at present on whether health issues will affect her plans to attend events linked to the Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow at the end of the month.
She was due to begin the two-day visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
Before the investment summit reception she held two meetings via video link from Windsor Castle, greeting the Japanese ambassador, Hajime Hayashi, and the EU ambassador, João de Almeida.
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.
Last week, she used a walking stick for what is believed to be the first time at a major public event when she attended a service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion.
She had been due to arrive in Hillsborough, County Down on Wednesday where she was scheduled to meet local people including schoolchildren after the village was officially named Royal Hillsborough. It is the first village or town in Northern Ireland to be granted royal status.
She was also due to attend a church service in Armagh on Thursday to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland’s formation.
Political leaders wished her well following the cancellation. The Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, tweeted: “Wishing Her Majesty the Queen all the very best as she takes a few days’ rest. I look forward to meeting her in Northern Ireland in the future.”
The DUP leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, also tweeted his best wishes. “We thank Her Majesty for her good wishes to the people of Northern Ireland and trust that she will keep well and benefit from a period of rest,” he said. “It is always a joy to have Her Majesty in Royal Hillsborough and we look forward to a further visit in the near future.”
Church leaders expressed their sorrow after learning she would not be coming to Northern Ireland.
“We are very sorry to learn that it will not be possible for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to be present for the service of reflection and hope in Armagh tomorrow,” they said in a statement.
“We wish to convey to Her Majesty our good wishes and, in doing so, to acknowledge the significance of her commitment to the work of peace and reconciliation, which has meant a great deal to people throughout this island.
“We hope that tomorrow’s service will provide an opportunity to further that work, with an emphasis on our shared hopes for the future.”
The statement was signed by the Presbyterian moderator, David Bruce; the Church of Ireland primate, John McDowell; the Catholic primate, Eamon Martin; the president of the Irish Council of Churches, Ivan Patterson; and the president of the Methodist church in Ireland, Sahr Yambasu.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “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 95-year-old monarch is resting at Windsor Castle, where on Tuesday evening she welcomed business leaders, tech entrepreneurs and politicians to a reception after the government’s investment summit. Among guests she greeted, alongside the prime minister, Boris Johnson, was the Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
It is understood the Queen’s decision to rest is not related to Covid. There is no guidance at present on whether health issues will affect her plans to attend events linked to the Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow at the end of the month.
She was due to begin the two-day visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
Before the investment summit reception she held two meetings via video link from Windsor Castle, greeting the Japanese ambassador, Hajime Hayashi, and the EU ambassador, João de Almeida.
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.
Last week, she used a walking stick for what is believed to be the first time at a major public event when she attended a service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion.
She had been due to arrive in Hillsborough, County Down on Wednesday where she was scheduled to meet local people including schoolchildren after the village was officially named Royal Hillsborough. It is the first village or town in Northern Ireland to be granted royal status.
She was also due to attend a church service in Armagh on Thursday to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland’s formation.
Political leaders wished her well following the cancellation. The Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, tweeted: “Wishing Her Majesty the Queen all the very best as she takes a few days’ rest. I look forward to meeting her in Northern Ireland in the future.”
The DUP leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, also tweeted his best wishes. “We thank Her Majesty for her good wishes to the people of Northern Ireland and trust that she will keep well and benefit from a period of rest,” he said. “It is always a joy to have Her Majesty in Royal Hillsborough and we look forward to a further visit in the near future.”
Church leaders expressed their sorrow after learning she would not be coming to Northern Ireland.
“We are very sorry to learn that it will not be possible for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to be present for the service of reflection and hope in Armagh tomorrow,” they said in a statement.
“We wish to convey to Her Majesty our good wishes and, in doing so, to acknowledge the significance of her commitment to the work of peace and reconciliation, which has meant a great deal to people throughout this island.
“We hope that tomorrow’s service will provide an opportunity to further that work, with an emphasis on our shared hopes for the future.”
The statement was signed by the Presbyterian moderator, David Bruce; the Church of Ireland primate, John McDowell; the Catholic primate, Eamon Martin; the president of the Irish Council of Churches, Ivan Patterson; and the president of the Methodist church in Ireland, Sahr Yambasu.