THE Queen was absent from yesterday’s Commonwealth Day service – but vowed to stick to the promises she made when she took the throne.
Her Majesty said her life would “always be devoted to service” in a message to mark Commonwealth Day, after she was forced to pull out of Monday’s annual church service to mark the occasion.
In her annual message, the monarch promised: “In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, it has given me pleasure to renew the promise I made in 1947, that my life will always be devoted in service.”
The decision to not attend was not related to any illness but due to concerns over the discomfort of travelling from Windsor Castle to west London, said Buckingham Palace yesterday.
Meanwhile, palace officials are drawing up detailed plans to find a way for the Queen to comfortably attend Philip’s service, the Mail on Sunday reported.
The thanksgiving service for the late Duke of Edinburgh at the end of this month had already been cut to 50 minutes.
A side door may also be deployed to save Her Majesty from walking too much if she can attend.
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