THE QUEEN has been forced to pull out of today's Remembrance Sunday event at the Cenotaph.
Her Majesty, 95, was due to make her first official appearance after resting for a month under doctor's orders to lead the nation in commemorating our brave soldiers.
A Buckingham Palace statement read: "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.
"Her Majesty is disappointed that she will miss the service."
Read our Royal Family live blog below for the latest news and updates…
- Joseph Gamp
Queen suffers setback amid heightened public anxiety for her health, says royal writer
The nation's anxiety over the Queen's health will be heightened as the monarch suffered another setback and missed the Remembrance Sunday service, a royal author has said
Penny Junor suggested Elizabeth II was entering a new phase of her reign when she would not be seen as much in public.
Ms Junor said: "It's very sad for the Queen because this is the one event in the year that she really, really likes to be at.
"Remembering the war dead is a very, very important part for her annual calendar.
"The public will be very sad and anxious to hear of yet another setback but clearly she must follow the advice and get herself well."
- Joseph Gamp
What servicemen and women said about the Queen today
Lance Corporal May Percival said: "My heart goes out to her and her family. I wish her well and the best."
RAF Nurse Officer Stephen Andor said: "I wish her well. The Queen has very strong links to the military. She is the head of the armed forces.
"I think that every single member of the military wishes her well."
Royal Navy Petty Officer Ben Shread, of the Combat Camera team, said: "It would be nice if the boss was here.
"She's the head of the armed services. I don't know if she has ever missed the Remembrance parade before.
"So, if there is a reason she is not here it must be a very serious one. We all wish her well."
- Joseph Gamp
Queen absent as war dead remembered at Cenotaph
Members of the royal family and senior politicians have led the nation in honouring the country's war dead on Remembrance Sunday.
Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday morning that the Queen would be absent from the service at the Cenotaph in central London due to having sprained her back.
The event on Whitehall was given added poignancy by a return to pre-pandemic numbers of participating veterans and military, as well as onlookers.
The Prince of Wales and Prime Minister are among those laying a wreath at the war memorial for the National Service of Remembrance.
Boris Johnson said it was a moment to "come together to remember those who sacrificed everything in service of our country".
The palace said the Queen made the decision not to attend "with great regret" and is "disappointed" to miss it.
Service personnel attending the ceremony at the Cenotaph wished the Queen well.
- Joseph Gamp
'Must be serious if Queen is unable to attend' says serviceman
A serviceman attending the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph said "it must be very serious" if the Queen is unable to attend.
Royal Navy Petty Officer Ben Shread, of the Combat Camera team, said: "It would be nice if the boss was here.
"She's the head of the armed services. I don't know if she has ever missed the Remembrance parade before.
"So, if there is a reason she is not here it must be a very serious one. We all wish her well."
- Joseph Gamp
PM Boris Johnson appears sombre as he lays a wreath
Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared sombre as he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.
Only the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds could be heard as thousands of people held the two-minute silence in honour of all those who have lost their lives in conflict.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stood beside the Prime Minister while former prime ministers lined up behind Mr Johnson, with John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May all paying their respects.
- Joseph Gamp
Charles, William, Edward and Anne lay wreaths at Cenotaph
Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne have taken their place at the Cenotaph.
The two minute silence took place at 11am.
Sophie of Wessex, Camilla and Kate Middleton looked on from a balcony.
- Joseph Gamp
Royal family told they can sue Netflix over The Crown after friends get legal advice on libel
THE Royal Family have been told they can sue Netflix over The Crown.
Friends shown in the new series consulted the Queen’s lawyers who said they and the royals had grounds for legal action.
Close friends of the Firm, worried about their own portrayals in the upcoming fifth series, recently sought advice from top solicitors.
They included experts from the Queen’s favoured law firms Farrer & Co and Harbottle & Lewis.
The friends close to the monarchy were told that they are entitled to sue the show’s makers.
And crucially the pals have shared the advice with the Royal Family — paving the way for them to take historic action.
A source said: “Friends of the Royal Family sought legal advice.
“The advice they received would also apply to the Royal Family.
“Although this is not direct legal advice given to the Queen and her family — they have been made aware of this advice.”
- Joseph Gamp
William, Kate and Charles lead slimmed-down royal family at the Festival of Remembrance
PRINCE William, Kate and Prince Charles led a slimmed-down royal family paying tribute to our troops at last night's Festival of Remembrance – as the Queen stayed at home to rest.
The royal box at London's Albert Hall was noticeably much less packed than the last time the event was held two years ago.
Her Majesty would normally attend but was advised by doctors to perform only "light duties" so stayed at Windsor Castle.
However, the monarch will make a public return on Sunday morning as she leads the nation's Remembrance Sunday tributes at the Cenotaph.
Prince William, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra were all present last night.
PM Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer were also there, seated near the royals.
Two years ago Prince Harry, Meghan and Prince Andrew joined the Queen and the rest of the family in the royal box.
But all were absent last night, having stepped back from duties.
- Joseph Gamp
Cenotaph service 'something Queen does not ever want to miss'
Royal experts previously revealed the service is something she "does not ever want to miss".
Dickie Arbiter told The Sun Online seeing the monarch is an "uplift" for Brits but said the service would be particularly emotional for the Queen as it is her first since Prince Philip's death.
He added: "I believe being at the Cenotaph is as important to her as her Christmas message.
"Being Commander-in-Chief is not something she would wish to miss – being Commander-in-Chief of past and present forces.
"It’s important to her that she is there."
- Joseph Gamp
PM's statement ahead of Cenotaph ceremony
Ahead of the ceremony, the PM said: "Today we come together to remember those who sacrificed everything in service of our country, in the First World War and every conflict since, including recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It's a sacred ceremony that has endured for more than a century because we know the unpayable debt we owe those brave servicemen and women.
"We know that for our tomorrow they gave their today. And we know that here at home and around the world, thousands of men and women in uniform still stand ready to defend our unity and our way of life, our values, and at a cost few among us would be willing to pay.
"Today we come together. We wear our poppies with pride and stand as a nation in two minutes of silent tribute.”
- Joseph Gamp
We will remember
A two minute's silence will held at 11am to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for their country.
Hundreds of troops will line up around the Cenotaph and almost 10,000 veterans will march past the war memorial as the event returns to pre-Covid numbers.
Last year, the pandemic meant the number of veterans and military in attendance was limited and the ceremony closed to the public.
Instead the Royal British Legion asked Brits to display a poppy in their windows.
- Joseph Gamp
Queen will remain at Windsor Castle – no hospital treatment needed
The monarch regards the poignant service as one of the most significant engagements of the year.
She will now remain at Windsor Castle and does not require hospital treatment.
Sources say there were concerns over how a car journey to London and a period of standing could impact her injury.
- Joseph Gamp
'Incredibly unfortunate timing'
One said it is "incredibly unfortunate timing and nobody regrets her absence today more deeply than her Majesty herself".
Royal experts also revealed the service is something does not ever want to miss".
Dickie Arbiter told The Sun Online seeing the monarch is an "uplift" for Brits but said the service will be particularly emotional for the Queen as it is her first since Prince Philip's death.
He added: "I believe being at the Cenotaph is as important to her as her Christmas message.
"Being Commander-in-Chief is not something she would wish to miss – being Commander-in-Chief of past and present forces.
"It’s important to her that she is there."
- Joseph Gamp
Queen's sprain 'unrelated to doctor's advice'
It is understood the sprain is recent and unrelated to her medics' advice to rest.
She will now remain at Windsor Castle and is said to be "deeply disappointed" to miss the poignant service today.
Sources say there were concerns over how a car journey to London and a period of standing could impact her injury.
- Joseph Gamp
Queen sprains her back and pulls out of Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph
THE "disappointed" Queen will miss today's Remembrance Sunday event after spraining her back, Buckingham Palace confirmed.
Her Majesty, 95, was due to make her first official appearance after resting for a month under doctor's orders to lead the nation in commemorating our brave soldiers.
But the Palace said she will now not attend the service at the Cenotaph and is "disappointed to miss the event".
Other royals will still be in attendance – including Prince Charles who will lay a wreath on her behalf.
A Buckingham Palace statement read: "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.
"Her Majesty is disappointed that she will miss the service."
The Queen was recently advised to step back from official duties by medics after an overnight stay in hospital.
She missed the Festival of Remembrance last night but aides said it was her "firm intention" to attend today's service.
- Joseph Gamp
Who is Jason Knauf?
Knauf joined Kensington Palace in 2015 and became the communications secretary for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Known to be a trusted staffer, he even was asked to help with private letters to Meghan Markle’s family.
Knauf was working for the royals at the time the allegations against the newspaper publisher were made.
Two months after Meghan asked for his feedback on the famous private letter to her father, Knauf turned his back on her and is said to be the person who submitted the bullying allegations to the HR department in October 2018.
The claims were raised to HR in a bid to get Buckingham Palace to protect the staff that Knauf alleged were coming under pressure from the Duchess.
A source told The Times that Prince Harry had pleaded with Knauf not to pursue the bullying allegations.
A month after reporting the allegation of bullying, Knauf handed in his notice.
He took up a job as an adviser to Prince William in March 2019 when Harry and Meghan left Kensington Palace.
Knauf is now chief executive of the Cambridges’ Royal Foundation.
- Joseph Gamp
Continued…
She claims he began the conversation by asking: "What do you think about how my mother died?”
Sally told him to speak to Diana’s elder sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, as she claims she predicted the royal's death to Harry's aunt.
She believes the 45-minute phonecall was a prelude to “him waking up to his own mental health” issues.
In her new book Secret Spirit, the psychic praises Harry for speaking out about his struggles and believes his mother "would have been very proud".
She said: "Harry and Meghan are helping drive the debate forward."
Sally has also made a new prediction and believes Harry and Meghan will be "together forever".
The psychic added: "Harry will never abandon his children.”
- Joseph Gamp
Harry ‘visited Princess Diana’s psychic Sally Morgan and she made a prediction about Meghan
PRINCESS Diana's psychic made a spooky prediction about Meghan Markle to Prince Harry years before the royal even met his wife.
Sally Morgan received a phone call from the Duke of Sussex around eight years ago while he was in an on/off relationship with Cressida Bonas.
Harry asked the TV psychic about how his future wife would look and received a description matching Meghan, who he first met in 2016.
Sally told the Mirror: "One of the sweetest things he said to me was, ‘What colour hair will my future wife have? Will she have blonde hair?’
"I said he would marry someone with dark hair.”
Sally says the royal also asked about his "bruv" Prince William during the phone call and if he was going to be "OK".
She responded: "Of course he is. He will be good and he will be king, but he is in a different bubble to you.”
Harry reportedly replied: "That is why I am always going to worry about him”.
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- Joseph Gamp
Meghan Markle’s half-sister accuses Duchess of ‘PR smears’
MEGHAN Markle’s half-sister has hit out at the royal’s “grandiose” image – as the duchess faces a week of bombshell courtroom drama.
Samantha Markle told of her fury after she discovered Meghan said in an email that she had “lost custody of all three of her children from different fathers”.
Samantha, who has been estranged from Meghan for years, said the “hurtful” claim is “revealing”.
Samantha told The Telegraph: “To see Jason Knauf’s evidence was shocking. I never lost custody of my kids… no court record on the planet would confirm that.
“To take personal matters and then spin them in an ugly way to discredit me is pretty tacky.
“Everyone, even Trevor (Engelson, Meghan’s first husband), who has been good to her – she has a disgusting way of disposing, stepping on and then silencing.
“The public will form an appropriate opinion of her based on her own actions. People do not like to be lied to and manipulated.
“She’s going to have to live with that. She’s so grandiose, she self-sabotaged.”
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan ‘doesn’t want to be told what to do’
Meghan Markle “doesn’t want to be told” what to do amid an “extraordinary” court row that could see her credibility “suffer”, an expert says.
Prince Harry’s official biographer Angela Levin hit out at the duchess following a series of astonishing revelations in her fight with a British newspaper.
The mum-of-two is currently in the final throes of a three-year court battle with Mail on Sunday publisher Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL).
It comes after the newspaper published extracts of a five-page private letter she’d written to her dad begging him not to speak to the media about her.
Meghan won her case at the High Court in February – but the publisher appealed.
- Joseph Gamp
Charles’ top aide 'won't be coming back’
One pal said: “Michael has resigned and he will never be coming back. He has lost five stone in weight and is a shadow of his former self.”
A spokesman for The Prince’s Foundation confirmed: “Michael Fawcett has resigned from his post as CEO of The Prince’s Foundation.’”
Clarence House also confirmed it would be severing its connection to Fawcett and his events company, Premier Mode.
A spokesman said: “Michael Fawcett and Premier Mode will not be providing services to us in the future. We have all agreed to end these arrangements.”
For 40 years, Mr Fawcett was the man Charles famously could not live without.
- Joseph Gamp
Thomas Markle says ‘the truth is coming out’
MEGHAN Markle’s dad said “the truth is coming out” after email exchanges shown to a court revealed the duchess had briefed her press secretary before sending dad Thomas a letter involved in her High Court privacy case.
The Duchess of Sussex’s former press secretary revealed the email exchange over a letter Meghan wrote to estranged father Thomas, 77, after her wedding.
Knauf claimed Meghan said she would refer to him as “daddy” because it would “pull at the heartstrings” if leaked.
Mr Knauf’s 23-page statement also revealed Meghan and Harry had briefed him on what to say to the authors of Finding Freedom – the ‘unauthorised biography’ about them – despite insisting they did not cooperate.
Thomas Markle told GB News: “Finally the truth is coming out.
“Thank God for Jason Knauf, I’d be happy to invite him over here and take him to Sizzler – we’ll enjoy a steak and a nice little dinner together.
“He’s certainly putting things in the right perspective.”
- Joseph Gamp
Kate met up with WWII veteran for tribute
KATE Middleton beamed as she met up with a 98-year-old Second World War veteran in a touching tribute ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
The Duchess of Cambridge spoke with Colonel David Blum OBE, 98, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea earlier this month in a moving video remembering Britain’s fallen soldiers.
The interview – titled a Conversation Between Generations – saw Colonel Blum talk about the friends he lost while serving in Italy during the Second World War.
The Queen is set to lead the Royal Family’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations this weekend at the Cenotaph in London.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
William could 'prop father Charles up on throne'
Prince Charles is set to become the next head of state after the end of the Queen’s reign.
However, royal author Andrew Morton believes the current Prince of Wales may not lead alone but could choose to be “propped up” by his popular son Prince William.
Mr Morton, author of the recently updated biography Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, discussed how the monarchy could look after the end of Elizabeth II’s reign.
He told Express.co.uk: “The quartet of Charles, Camilla, William and Kate will be what you will see more of.
“Because those people in the palace who take notice of these things will have seen that William and Catherine are very very popular and photogenic and articulate and fit the bill.
“Whereas Charles and Camilla have tried manfully to establish themselves but it is still the younger generation that people focus on.
“So I think you are going to see Charles wanting to prop up his throne with the help of his son.”
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan admits she DID try to help with biography
Meghan Markle offered to help write Finding Freedom despite previously claiming she had nothing to do with it, court documents have sensationally revealed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have both previously denied having anything to do with the unauthorised autobiography.
But bombshell court documents have revealed that the couple authorised “specific cooperation” for certain topics on the book.
A witness statement from their former communications secretary Jason Knauf revealed that Meghan had an input on a series of topics that would feature in the book.
Mr Knauf has revealed that he sat down with Omid Scobie and Caroyln Durand in December 2018 to discuss Meghan’s chosen topics.
She later apologised to the court in writing saying she FORGOT she had directed Knauf to help.
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