Sick Queen cancels Swansea visit
The Queen cancels a visit to Swansea on Saturday to celebrate St David’s Day after developing gastroenteritis, Buckingham Palace confirms.
She was due to attend a military celebration in Wales during the city’s St David’s Day celebrations, but has been forced to cancel her planned engagements because of the sickness.
She will instead spend the weekend at Windsor, a palace spokeswoman said.
The Queen was expected to travel through Swansea to the Guildhall, where she would present St David’s Day leeks to the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh, of which she is Colonel-in-Chief.
She was then due to attend a reception with members of the battalion and their families, before proceeding to the George Hall for lunch.
A palace spokeswoman said on Friday night: “The Queen will no longer visit Swansea tomorrow as she is experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis.
“She will be assessed in the coming days.
“Her Majesty is currently spending the weekend at Windsor, as usual.”
Queen due to fly to Rome
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are due to fly out to Rome for a two-day visit next week, which could now be in doubt.
A palace spokesman said the visit was still due to take place, but a decision would be made after she was assessed.
The Queen, who is 86, has undertaken a number of engagements during the last week. On Tuesday she met the Archbishop of Canterbury at Buckingham Palace, and on Thursday she presented a host of Olympic stars with honours during an investiture ceremony.
Swansea Council said the ceremony would go ahead today as planned with the Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Byron Lewis.
A council spokesman said: “Due to minor illness, Her Majesty The Queen is unable to attend Saturday’s event.
“The ceremony will continue as planned and will be carried out by the Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Mr Byron Lewis.
Event goes ahead
“The Lord Lieutenant will be met upon arrival at the Guildhall by Brigadier Philip Napier, colonel of the regiment.
“The parade will present arms for a royal salute and play the national anthem before the Lord Lieutenant is invited to present leeks to a representative body of the regiment.
“Following the parade, the Lord Lieutenant will attend a reception with members of the battalion and their families, before proceeding to the George Hall for lunch.
“The event will take place in and around the Brangwyn Hall and public viewing areas will be available.”
The Queen has rarely missed a royal engagement due to ill health in recent years.
She was last forced to pull out of an investiture ceremony in October last year after suffering with a bad back.
The monarch also missed a visit to the British Museum in October 2011 because of a cold.