Queen Elizabeth pulls out of COP26 climate summit on doctors’ advice
- The British monarch, who recently returned from an overnight hospital stay, ‘regretfully decided’ not to travel to Glasgow after being told to rest
- The queen returned to official duties on Tuesday, holding two virtual audiences to welcome new ambassadors to the UK
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has pulled out of the COP26 conference in Glasgow next week after she was advised by doctors to rest, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday, in a blow to the United Nations climate summit.
A palace source said the decision to not attend had been taken as a “sensible precaution” and to let everyone know in advance. The queen remains in good spirits and wants COP26 to be a success, the source added.
“Following advice to rest, the queen has been undertaking light duties at Windsor Castle,” Buckingham Palace said.
“Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the evening reception of COP26 on Monday, November 1.”
The 95-year-old queen, the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch, stayed overnight in hospital last Wednesday after undergoing “preliminary investigations” for an unspecified but not Covid-19 related ailment.
She carried out her first official engagement since the hospital stay earlier on Tuesday, holding two virtual audiences to welcome the new ambassadors to Britain from South Korea and Switzerland.
