The Queen’s health worries royal fans as ‘seasonal cold’ ends Northern Ireland trip

The Queen was forced to call off a trip to Northern Ireland after coming down with a cold

The Queen's health worries royal fans as 'seasonal cold' ends Northern Ireland trip
(Image credit: Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The Queen has been showing signs of a “seasonal cold” following the cancellation of a recent royal trip, according to palace insiders. 


The Queen has been suffering from a “seasonal cold” according to royal insiders, and will spend the next few days resting at home. 

A Buckingham Palace representative confirmed on Wednesday that the 95-year-old monarch had ”reluctantly” accepted doctors' advice to call off her trip to Northern Ireland, after struggling to keep her energies up during recent events. 

The Queen was scheduled to attend a number of royal engagements at Hillsborough Castle on the 21st and 22nd of October, in what would have been her first visit to the country in five years. 

It's now been revealed that Her Majesty, like many other Brits, has come down with a classic case of the autumn sniffles. 

Queen in Wales 2021

(Image credit: Getty)

She has since retreated to her Berkshire residence of Windsor Castle, where she has been told to "rest" while continuing to attend to her famous red box. Despite reports she's feeling "a little tired," her spokesperson insists that she is in "good spirits" and looks forward to visiting [Northern Ireland] in the future." 

The news of the Queen's ill-health has come as quite a shock to royal fans, who have spent the last couple of weeks admiring her steely work ethic. 

Her Majesty has had a hectic timetable as of late, packing up the Court Circular with an impressive number of engagements. She hosted a reception at Windsor Castle for world leaders after the Global Investment Summit on Tuesday, just a few days after visiting Cardiff to open the Senedd (the Welsh parliament) for its sixth term. 

Queen at Global Investment Summit reception 2021

(Image credit: Getty)

However, warning signs that Her Majesty's health has been on the decline have been impossible to ignore. Fans were alarmed to see photos of the Queen using a walking stick last week, and even more concerned to discover she's been urged by doctors to give up alcohol as she approaches her late 90s. 

It's also been speculated that the Queen is simply worn down, having followed an intense work schedule all her life. 

“Her Majesty doesn’t know any other pace than full-on and used to being incredibly busy, especially of late, but perhaps it is in her best interests that she takes this time to rest and recuperate before she starts once again," a royal source told the Mirror.

The Queen isn't expected to be on sick leave for long though. It's understood that she is determined to get better and has every intention of attending the Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow later this month. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.