The Queen will not attend the Cop26 climate change reception in Glasgow on Monday after spending a night in hospital in London last week, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The 95-year-old sovereign was due to travel to Scotland for the high-profile engagement on November 1 to greet world leaders from 120 countries including US President Joe Biden.
Aides had hoped that the head of state would be able to lead the Royal Family at the summit next week, either in person or via videolink. And earlier today she returned to work, carrying out virtual audiences from Windsor Castle where she is resting on doctors' orders.
However, a Palace spokesman said that the head of state has 'regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the evening reception'. A statement said: 'Following advice to rest, The Queen has been undertaking light duties at Windsor Castle.
'Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow to attend the evening reception of Cop26 on Monday, 1st November. Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the reception but will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message.'
The head of state faced preliminary tests in hospital on October 20 during her first overnight stay at the private King Edward VII's Hospital in eight years.
Queen Elizabeth II (pictured) during a reception for delegates of the Global Investment Conference at Windsor Castle on Tuesday October 19, 2021
The Queen was photographed at Windsor Castle today in a picture released on the royal family's social media accounts. The monarch was shown side on, smiling as she sat in a chair with her hands in her lap, in front of her large computer screen. On the table were the Queen's folded glasses and several pages of typed briefing notes for the audiences
Queen Elizabeth II appears on a screen via videolink from Windsor Castle this morning
Queen Elizabeth II hosted a reception for international business and investment leaders at Windsor Castle on October 19
It is understood the trip to the private King Edward VII's Hospital in London (pictured) on Wednesday afternoon was expected to be for a short stay for some 'preliminary investigations'
She has been resting following medical advice to cancel her two-day trip to Northern Ireland.
The Queen had a busy schedule of engagements in the first weeks of October following her return from Balmoral.
Her hospital stay was kept a secret and only confirmed by the Palace when it was revealed by a newspaper.
Last week the BBC's veteran Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell faced a backlash last night after questioning whether Buckingham Palace undermined public trust by failing to reveal the Queen had been admitted to hospital.
In forthright comments, Mr Witchell said that journalists and the public had not been 'given the complete picture'.
He added: 'The problem, it seems to me, is that rumour and misinformation always thrive in the absence of proper, accurate and trustworthy information.'
But his remarks provoked criticism online. 'Nicholas Witchell is honestly so infuriating,' one Royal watcher wrote on Twitter. 'The Queen is 95 and like most her age, she'll be in and out of hospital for various tests because that's what happens at that age no matter how fit you are. She doesn't need to disclose her every move, let her have some dignity.'
Another Twitter user wrote: 'He's a pompous a***, full of his own self importance. Bring back Jennie Bond. She was classy.'
A third asked: 'Since when has the Queen been answerable to Nicholas Witchell?'
A BBC stalwart, Mr Witchell, 68, famously provoked royal displeasure in 2005 when, during a press conference in the Swiss ski resort of Klosters, he asked Prince Charles about his forthcoming
