Queen cancels trip to the world climate conference in Glasgow

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Queen Elizabeth II

Photo: VICTORIA JONES / AFP

Queen Elizabeth II (95) has canceled her planned visit to the world climate conference COP26 in Glasgow next week.

"Her Majesty has decided with regret that she will not travel to Glasgow after all to attend a reception at COP26 on Monday," said Buckingham Palace on Wednesday evening.

The queen is disappointed, but will send a video message.

Heir to the throne Prince Charles is still expected at the COP with his wife Camilla, as is Prince William and Duchess Kate.

The British royals have repeatedly spoken out in favor of more vigorous climate protection in the past few weeks and months.

First virtual appointments after a break

After a medically prescribed break, the Queen had her first virtual appointments again at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.

From Windsor Castle, the British Queen granted the ambassadors of South Korea and Switzerland, Gunn Kim and Markus Leitner, an audience via video, as announced by Buckingham Palace in London.

Last week, the monarch canceled a trip to Northern Ireland and spent a night in hospital for medical tests.

She had officially been taken to the London hospital for "precautionary examinations."

After that, she took a few days off and waited for results.

Buckingham Palace had only published bits and pieces of information about the Queen's hospital stay, which had caused some criticism.

Concern about the health of the 95-year-old Queen had grown in the past few weeks after showing up with a walking stick at two appointments.

In fact, Britain's longest-serving monarch is known for her robust health.

She was hospitalized for the penultimate time in 2013 because of a gastrointestinal virus.

mfh / dpa / AFP