Her Majesty The Queen will not attend next week's Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace has said.
As a significant occasion for the Queen, it had been hoped that she would attend, but the decision is understood to have be about concerns over her discomfort with travelling, rather than illness.
Prince Harry is also now not expected to travel to the UK for a service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip, which will be held later this month.
The message from Buckingham Palace does not mention the health of the 95-year-old Queen, but does, however, say that not attending the Commonwealth Day service was decided after discussing arrangements with the Royal Household.It is understood not to be related to an illness - but there have been concerns about the Queen's ability to travel and her mobility.
The Queen, recently recovered from Covid, has been carrying out diplomatic engagements at Windsor Castle, such as meeting the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week, and is expected to continue with such in-person audiences next week. But she will not be at the annual event, on Monday, which celebrates the work of the Commonwealth - and which, this year, will mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
The Commonwealth Day service was one of two major events for the Queen this month - the other being the service of thanksgiving for her husband, Prince Philip. But her grandson Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will not be in the UK for that service commemorating Prince Philip's life, to be held on 29 March with a spokesperson saying that Prince Harry hoped to visit his grandmother as soon as possible.
At the Commonwealth Day service, the Queen will be represented by Prince Charles and other senior royals will be attending, including Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are not attending, after the duke tested positive for Covid.
The service at Westminster Abbey will be addressed by the former Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, and will hear music from Emeli Sandé and Mica Paris.
