Queen Elizabeth Skips Christmas Service

NOT GOOD

Tom Sykes

Royalist Correspondent

Updated Apr. 13, 2017 12:19PM EDT / Published Dec. 25, 2016 8:55AM EST

Fears for Queen Elizabeth’s health escalated today as the Monarch was too ill to attend the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church, breaking a tradition that has been strictly adhered to for almost 30 years. Buckingham Palace issued a brief statement to try and allay speculation about the Queen’s health, saying, “The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery.” The statement added: “Her Majesty will participate in the royal family Christmas celebrations during the day.” However the absence of the Queen at the service, a key piece of royal iconography, and which she has attended every year since 1988, will be seen as deeply significant by royal observers. The 90-year-old Queen and Prince Philip, 95, were forced at the last minute to abandon plans to travel to Sandringham by train on Thursday, after becoming ill. Prince Philip was well enough to attend the service today.

—Tom Sykes

R.F.K. Jr.’s Old Environmental Pals Tell Him to Get Lost

“His actions are a betrayal to our environment,” the candidate’s former mentor said of him.

Iconic Hotel From ‘The Shining’ Goes Up in Flames

Crews responded late Thursday night to an attic fire at the famous Oregon lodge.

John Cleese Cancels His Own Cancel Culture Show

The “Monty Python” star has stalled the show for three years.

Susan Sarandon Joins Protesters at Columbia University

“Especially in a place of education, and supposedly higher thought, to be attacked with racism and intolerance is not acceptable,” the actress said.

New Deets Surface on Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer’s Beef

Despite the two being bitter rivals, Sawyer also conceded, “We spent a lot of time laughing and forging a real friendship.”

Stock Slips After Netflix Stops Sharing Subscriber Numbers

Despite a strong first quarter, investors were seemingly rattled by the company’s decision to stop reporting their favorite metric.

A D.C. ‘Skinny’ Home Is Listed for $600K—It’s 6 Feet Wide

A change in zoning laws forced the owners to put their building plans on a serious diet.

Ethics Panel Wants to Know if Gaetz Got High at Parties: ABC

The House committee has reportedly obtained a woman’s statement claiming the Republican attended an event where drugs were present.

Queen Elizabeth Skips Christmas Service

Tom Sykes

© Peter Nicholls / Reuters