Queen Elizabeth II misses Remembrance Sunday service after spraining back

LONDON — A back sprain prevented Queen Elizabeth II from attending a Remembrance Sunday service to commemorate those who died in Great Britain’s wars, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

>> PHOTOS: Kate Middleton, Prince William attend Remembrance Sunday service

It was to be the 95-year-old monarch’s first public appearance since spending the night in a hospital last month, the BBC reported.

>> Read more trending news

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said the queen was “disappointed” to miss the ceremony. As the head of the country’s military, Elizabeth annually leads the ceremony, which is one of the most significant dates on the royal calendar, The Washington Post reported.

Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, laid a wreath of poppies on the queen’s behalf, as he has done since 2017, the BBC reported. Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, also attended the ceremony along with other members of the royal family, according to the Post.

“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 its statement. ““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.”

A national two minutes of silence was held at 11 a.m. London time, with similar ceremonies taking place at war memorials across the country, according to the BBC.

>> Queen Elizabeth II returns to Windsor Castle after hospital stay

Since ascending to the throne nearly 70 years ago, the queen has only missed a few Remembrance Day services, according to ITV. Twice, she was pregnant, and four other times she was overseas, the network reported.

Senior politicians, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Keir Starmer, also laid wreaths, the BBC reported.

Johnson said it was a moment to “come together to remember those who sacrificed everything in service of our country.”

Late last month, Buckingham Palace said the queen was advised by doctors to rest and undertake “light, desk-based duties.” She canceled a trip to Northern Ireland and then said she would not attend the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, the Post reported.

Her back sprain is unrelated to her previous advice from doctors to rest, according to the newspaper.

The queen’s stay at the hospital was her first in eight years and sparked widespread concerns for her health, the Post reported.

ExpandAutoplay

1 of 16

ExpandAutoplay

1 of 69

©2021 Cox Media Group