Boris Johnson gives update on Queen amid health fears

Boris Johnson has moved to allay concerns around the Queen’s health in Britain after the 95-year-old monarch missed another major event.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reassured the British public that the Queen is “very well”, saying she was in good spirits when he saw her last week during the pair’s weekly meeting.

Mr Johnson’s comments came after the 95-year-old Queen missed Britain’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony for the first time in 22 years due to a back injury.

Buckingham Palace said she made the decision not to attend the service at the Cenotaph in London “with great regret” and was “disappointed” to miss the event.

“I know that everybody will be wanting to offer their best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen,” Mr Johnson said.

The Queen is recuperating from a back injury. Picture: AFP

“I just want to reassure everybody by saying that I did see the Queen for an audience last week on Wednesday in Windsor and she is very well.

“It shouldn’t need saying, but I just wanted to say it anyway.”

The Queen had planned on attending the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday and it would have marked her first in-person public engagement since she was advised to rest following a night in hospital last month.

It is understood the Queen’s back sprain is unrelated to her doctor’s recent advice to rest.

“The Queen, having sprained her back, has decided this morning with great regret that she will not be able to attend today’s Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

Boris Johnson said that the Queen was “very well” amid concerns for her health. Picture: Getty Images

“Her Majesty is disappointed that she will miss the service.

“As in previous years, a wreath will be laid on Her Majesty’s behalf by the Prince of Wales.

“His Royal Highness, along with the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra will be present at the Cenotaph as planned.”

The Queen pictured at Britain’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony in 2019. She missed this year’s ceremony. Picture: AFP

It comes as royal commentators are speculating that the Queen is unlikely to be seen in public in the coming months with no major engagements set for the rest of the year, reports The Sun.

Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty magazine said there had been a “collective sigh of relief” when she was due to be at the Cenotaph, but the situation had “regressed”.

Mr Little added that the celebration of the monarch’s Platinum Jubilee will be different from her Diamond Jubilee and will “reflect her age”.

The Queen is due to reach the milestone in February, and Britain will celebrate with a four-day long weekend of festivities to mark the occasion in June.

– with The Sun

Originally published as Boris Johnson gives update on Queen amid health fears