The Prince of Wales travelled to Buckingham Palace alone on Wednesday for The Queen’s annual Christmas Lunch without his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, by his side.
According to a Clarence House spokesperson, the Duchess was suffering from a “heavy cold” and therefore could not attend the festivities at Buckingham Palace.
Her Royal Highness was also forced to cancel an engagement at the Olympia Horse Show later that evening.
Camilla’s last engagement was on Friday when she paid a visit to an airbase near Chippenham to officially open it in her role as patron of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
The Queen hosted her traditional pre-Christmas dinner at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday for members of The Royal Family.
Senior royals and extended members of Her Majesty’s family are invited to Her Majesty’s Christmas dinner each year at Buckingham Palace – a rare occasion where everybody gets together.
The dinner, which has now become an annual occurrence, is held for those members of the Royal Family who do not often get invited to Sandringham on Christmas Day.
Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh are expected to set off to Sandringham within the next couple of days to start their Christmas break.
Sandringham has been privately owned by the royal family since 1862 after it was purchased by Queen Victoria at the request of her son and future King, Prince Edward.
It has remained close to the royal family since, and it is from here where the Queen’s Christmas speech is broadcast. The topic and issues raised in this year’s speech are not yet known
