Queen will NOT attend Christmas church service at Sandringham due to 'heavy cold' for first time in 30 years

The Queen will not attend the Christmas church service at Sandringham today for the first time in nearly 30 years due to illness.

Her Majesty "continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery", Buckingham Palace said this morning.

But despite her absence at church, she will participate in the Royal Family's festive celebrations during the day, a palace spokesperson added.

It is thought to be the first time the Queen has been too ill to attend the Christmas Day church service at her Norfolk estate since 1988.