Queen to 'regretfully' miss Glasgow climate summit: 'Disappointed'

Queen Elizabeth won't be attending the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow after being advised to rest by her doctors.

The 95-year-old monarch was due to travel to Scotland for the high-profile engagement on Monday, but has now 'regretfully' cancelled her original plans after undergoing preliminary medical checks in hospital last week.

A palace spokesman said: "Following advice to rest, the Queen has been undertaking light duties at Windsor Castle.

"Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the evening reception of Cop26 on Monday, 1st November.

"Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the reception but will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message."

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It is understood the Queen very much wants Cop26 to be a success and result in meaningful action from the participating nations, and will still record a speech later this week that will be played in a video message to delegates.

The UN Climate Change Conference is set to begin on Sunday 31st October in Glasgow, with Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson all set to be in attendance.

Queen seen for the first time since hospital stay

Last week, Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen had gone to hospital for "preliminary investigations", and she stayed overnight before being sent back home to Windsor.

She had been resting following medical advice to cancel her two-day trip to Northern Ireland last week.

But she returned to work on Tuesday, carrying out virtual audiences from Windsor Castle, which were her first official engagements in seven days.

Photos show the Queen carrying out virtual audiences with Gunn Kim, ambassador to the Republic of Korea, and the Swiss ambassador Markus Leitner.

The Queen is also expected to carry out light engagements in the coming days.

Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said the audiences were an encouraging sign of a "more visible" Queen again.

"It is encouraging because she hasn’t been seen publicly for a week and now we’re seeing her back at work," he said.

"Although she has been working on her boxes behind the scenes, this is the more visible monarch again."

The Queen initially sparked some concerns after she used a walking aid at a service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion recently.

The last time she was seen using a walking stick was in 2003 and 2004 when she was recovering from a knee operation.

It had already been reported that the Queen is set to cut back on duties for the remainder of the year.

Her courtiers will also ensure she walks less at public engagements and avoids steps and cobbles, as well as making sure her car pulls up closer to venues.

Additional reporting by Bang Showbiz.

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