The Queen is set to celebrate her 96th birthday this Thursday (April 21) by making an emotional return to Sandringham to be close to her late husband Prince Philip, who passed away last year. Her Majesty will travel tomorrow morning, Wednesday, from Windsor Castle to the royal family’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, reports the Mirror.
She is set to stay at her late husband’s former home, Wood Farm, where he lived following his retirement in 2017, while being joined by members of the royal family over the weekend to celebrate. Royal sources said the Queen’s “mini-break” was a “positive step” that she is prepared to make the journey given her reported mobility issues in recent months.
Her Majesty has been forced to cancel or miss several high-profile engagements over recent months due to her ailing health. Palace sources have said the monarch should “not be expected” at any future public events ahead of time and will instead “make a decision on the day” as to whether she can attend.
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A royal source said: “The Queen decided very recently that on her birthday she wanted to be as close as possible to her late husband and in an environment that was very close to both of their hearts. Sandringham holds so many special memories for the Queen and Prince Philip as well as the rest of the royal family.
“It’s certainly a positive step that Her Majesty is feeling well enough and rested to enjoy her upcoming mini-break which she thoroughly deserves to celebrate her birthday.” Prince Philip previously transformed the Sandringham estate into an organic farm until it was taken over by Prince Charles.
It is not known at this stage whether members of the royal family, including Prince of Wales, who has been spending the Easter holidays with wife Camilla at their Scottish residence Birkhall as well as Prince William and his family, will join the Queen for a private celebration this weekend. However, several members of the royal family have been regular guests at Windsor as the Queen’s mobility issues have left her at certain times struggling to get about.
The Queen regretfully was forced last week to miss two major events in her calendar, the Royal Maundy Thursday service and the Easter Sunday church service both at St George’s chapel within the grounds of her Windsor home, due to her ability to attend the events in comfort. It was the first time in more than 50 years that she has missed either event, and the first ever through illness.
The sovereign was last seen in public on March 29 at a memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh, where she summoned all her strength to make the solemn occasion in tribute to her husband of 73 years.
