Boris Johnson says the Queen was ‘very well’ when he saw her last week
Boris Johnson has said the Queen is ‘very well’ after seeing her last week.
The Prime Minister gave an update on Her Majesty’s health to ‘reassure’ people after the 95-year-old monarch missed the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph due to a sprained back.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said: ‘I know that everybody will be wanting to offer their best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen.
‘I just want to reassure everybody by saying that I did see the Queen for an audience last week on Wednesday in Windsor and she is very well.
‘It shouldn’t need saying, but I just wanted to say it anyway.’
It is understood the Queen has not received hospital treatment for her back and the injury is unrelated to recent medical advice for her to rest.
She was ordered to rest by royal doctors just over three weeks ago and spent a night in hospital on October 20 undergoing preliminary tests.
The Queen was due to watch the service at the war memorial in central London from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building.
It is the first time in 22 years that the head of state has missed the Remembrance Sunday ceremony.
She would have been on public view for about 20 minutes if the format followed previous years.
It is thought that a back sprain would have made it difficult for the Queen to have endured a car journey to London followed by a period of standing.
On Thursday, the palace said the Queen would attend Sunday’s service, and had previously said it was her ‘firm intention’ to be there.
The monarch, who lived through the Second World War as a teenager, is head of the armed forces and attaches great importance to the poignant service and to commemorating the sacrifices made by fallen servicemen and women.
The Queen has only missed six other Cenotaph ceremonies during her reign, on four occasions when she was on overseas visits: to Ghana in 1961, Brazil in 1968, Kenya in 1983 and South Africa in 1999.
She was not present during the 1959 and 1963 services as she was pregnant with her two youngest children.
Service personnel attending the ceremony wished her well.
Lance Corporal May Percival said: ‘My heart goes out to her and her family. I wish her well and the best.’
RAF Nurse Officer Stephen Andor said: ‘I wish her well. The Queen has very strong links to the military. She is the head of the armed forces.
‘I think that every single member of the military wishes her well.’
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