The Queen has cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland after she “reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days,” Buckingham Palace has announced.

The development comes after the 95-year-old monarch undertook a string of engagements in recent weeks but she is now resting at Windsor Castle after accepting medical advice.

1 October

The Queen joined the Prince of Wales to plant a tree at Balmoral Cricket Pavilion to mark the start of the official planting season for the Queen’s Green Canopy on 1 October.

She was pictured wearing a headscarf and using a shovel to start the tree planting process with her eldest son.

As Charles, known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, and the monarch poured soil into the pit of the copper beech sapling, he quipped: “Let’s hope it will survive”.

2 October

Still in Scotland, the Queen arrived at Holyrood to mark the official opening of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament.

Accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall – known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland – the monarch addressed MSPs.

She also met with party and parliamentary leaders in the garden lobby ahead of the ceremony in the debating chamber.

6 October

A few days later, the Queen met members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle.

The monarch was photographed wearing her maple leaf brooch while greeting members of the regiment.

She also visited the soldiers’ accommodations and heard from them about their homes and families in Canada and presented the captain general’s sword, awarded annually to an officer presenting “exemplary leadership”.

7 October

The next day, the Queen held her first major event at Buckingham Palace since the pandemic began, handing over a baton for the Commonwealth Games’ Royal Relay.

Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox was given the honour of taking the baton on the first leg of its 90,000-mile journey which will lead to the opening ceremony in the host city Birmingham.

The Queen handed the symbol for the “friendly games” to four-time Paralympic champion Cox – who won two gold medals at Rio 2016 and two at Tokyo 2020 – after a message to the athletes and the Commonwealth was inserted into the baton.

12 October

The Queen used a walking stick for what is believed to be the first time at a major public event when she attended a service marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion on 12 October.

The 95-year-old appeared at ease as she moved to and from her seat at Westminster Abbey with the aid of the stick, handed to her by the Princess Royal when she first arrived and stepped out from a state limousine.

The Queen, who is the Royal British Legion’s patron, did not enter the abbey by her traditional route – the Great West Door – but via the Poet’s Yard entrance, a shorter route to her seat.

Both developments are understood to have been tailored for the Queen’s comfort.

13 October

The next day, the Queen carried out an audience at Buckingham Palace without the aid of a walking stick.

The monarch welcomed Dame Imogen Cooper to her royal residence in London to present the classical pianist with The Queen’s Medal for Music.

The Queen stood unaided in her private audience room for the engagement, examining the silver medal in its presentation box with Dame Imogen as she handed her the accolade.

14 October

The Queen travelled to Cardiff to deliver a speech at the opening of the sixth session of the Welsh Senedd in what was her first trip to Wales in five years.

Wearing pink, she was pictured using a walking stick again as she attended the ceremony.

During the event, she listed the institution’s major developments since her last visit to Wales five years ago, and said a “debt of gratitude” was owed to its people for their efforts during the pandemic.

The monarch also described the Welsh Senedd as “grown up now”, as she met its members following the opening of parliament.

16 October

The Queen attended the QIPCO British Champions Day at Royal Ascot.

She joined the meeting to present the trophy to trainer William Haggas after the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

18 October

The Queen held a virtual audience with the new governor-general of New Zealand, giving a little exclamation of surprise when Dame Cindy Kiro appeared on the screen.

The monarch raised her finger in the air and remarked “Ah there you are” as the call began.

19 October

The Queen held audiences on Tuesday via video link from Windsor Castle, greeting the Japanese ambassador Hajime Hayashi and the EU ambassador Joao de Almeida.

Later in the day, the Queen also welcomed billionaire business leaders, presidential envoys and tech entrepreneurs to Windsor Castle to mark the Global Investment Summit.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and US climate envoy John Kerry were among the guests invited to the Queen’s Berkshire home after a day-long conference in London aimed at encouraging foreign funding by showcasing the best of British innovation.

Related posts:

Wales through to knockout stage of Euros on goal difference – despite Italy loss Exhaustion for migrants as they complete final part of their perilous journey across Channel Pass rate in Scotland slightly down as students get results after one of ‘toughest academic years’ Two children killed in crash on M1 near Milton Keynes Mental health hospital was closed after CCTV exposed staff being abusive towards patients Final Test match between England and India called off over COVID-19 concerns Armed police arrest Afghan special forces commando at Manchester hotel, Sky News learns Calls for Prince Andrew to lose dukedom and police protection as Charles refuses to comment From combatting smuggling to saving lives at sea: UK coastguard celebrates 200 years Runners stop to silently remember murdered jogger Ashling Murphy Schools issued guidance on teaching partisan issues like BLM and Israel-Palestine conflict ‘Stay at home’: Rare red weather warning issued for Storm Eunice from 7am