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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Malvika Padin

Queen's recent health battles as she pays tribute at Prince Philip's memorial service

Queen Elizabeth has made her first public appearance in five months as she attends the memorial service in honour of Prince Philip, who died in 2021 just two months shy of his 100th birthday.

The thanksgiving service, which celebrates the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, is being attended by several members of the Royal Family including Prince Charles, Camilla, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as other dignitaries like Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson.

However, there were doubts about whether the Queen - who has been struggling with health issues since last year - would be attending the service honouring her beloved husband of seven decades.

What health issues has the Queen struggled with?

The Queen has been spotted using a walking stick at recent face-to-face engagements (PA)

The Queen, who was briefly hospitalised in October 2021 due to an unspecified illness, has cut back on her duties by cancelling on many engagements, following her doctors' advice to rest.

Concerns over her health have continued over the past few months, as the 95-year-old monarch pulled out of several high-profile events in recent times including the Commonwealth Day service, with reports suggesting that the "frail" Queen has been using a wheelchair.

The worries about her mobility issues were exacerbated when she was spotted using a walking stick in her first official face-to-face engagement with a number of people, two months after her Platinum Jubilee reception at Sandringham House.

Adding to this, the monarch also caught Covid in February, though her symptoms were described as mild.

Despite all the concerns around her health, it has been confirmed that the Queen will make her first public event this year, outside of her own residences, appearing at Westminster Abbey to pay tribute to her late husband Prince Philip.

Who is attending Prince Philip's memorial service and who isn't?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be attending Prince Philip's memorial service (Getty Images)

While Prince Philip's funeral last year were limited to only around 30 people due to Covid restrictions, the memorial service at Westminster Abbey today is set to be much bigger, with close to 2,000 people attending.

Most members of the Royal Family are attending the service, including Prince Andrew in his first public appearance at a royal event since his out-of-court settlement with sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have already confirmed that they won't be attending the service, with Harry putting out a statement several weeks ago saying he would not travel from California to the UK for his late grandfather's memorial service, due to concerns over security - he is now involved in a court case with the Home Office over funding.

Besides the British Royal Family, Prince Philip's memorial service guest list also includes royalty from around the world - such as King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Prince Albert of Monaco - as well as several people who have had long-standing connections with the Duke of Edinburgh.

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