Is Harry and Meghan's walkout taking a toll on the Queen? Monarch falls ill days after Megxit, cancels event
Just days after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell royal exit, Queen Elizabeth II has fallen ill.
The 93-year-old monarch canceled her annual visit to a branch of the Women’s Institute in Norfolk on Thursday 30 minutes before she was set to arrive, saying she was "not feeling up to it," Radar Online reports.
Speaking to Daily Mail, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace revealed that the queen “has a slight cold.” Another royal insider said her sudden illness is "no cause for alarm."
Nonetheless, fans were perturbed at the Queen missing the meeting as she's attended it every year since 1943 at West Newton village hall, as part of her winter stay at Sandringham.
Every year, the Queen joins WI ladies for tea and cake before listening to a speech. This year's speech was delivered by BBC newsreader Huw Edwards.
Last month, Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip was hospitalized for a pre-existing condition — and has not been spotted out since. The 98-year-old Duke of Edinburgh has suffered a number of ailments in the past couple of years.
The Queen's sudden health crisis comes just two days after Prince Harry flew to Canada to reunite with his wife Meghan and baby boy Archie following their royal stepdown.
The family of three is currently in a gorgeous mansion in Vancouver Island. As they have renounced their royal titles, they are now working to become financially independent.
Following Megxit, the Queen shared a number of statements regarding the Sussexes — one of them saying they “will always be much-loved members of my family,” despite their decision to step back from royal duties. “It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life,” she added.
The Queen is currently being treated, according to royal sources. This is one of the few times the otherwise flawless monarch has missed a royal event due to health issues. The last time she skipped one was in 2016, when she could not attend the traditional Christmas Day church service due to a heavy cold.