Queen will not attend COP26

Buckingham Palace have confirmed that the Queen will “regretfully” not attend the COP26 summit kicking off in Glasgow later this week, after doctors have told her to rest.

The 95-year-old monarch cancelled a visit to Northern Ireland last week after she “reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days” and it was later reported that she underwent preliminary medical tests in hospital.

On Tuesday she met ambassadors via video link from Windsor Castle.

The palace said she would deliver her planned speech to COP26 via a pre-recorded video message.

After opening the Welsh parliament (Senedd) in Cardiff earlier this month, a live recording of a conversation between Her Majesty, the Duchess of Cornwall and Elin Jones, the presiding officer of the Senedd, regarding the climate talks set to kick off on 31 October was broadcast.

In the recorded conversation the Queen said she felt “irritated” by leaders who “talk but don’t do” ahead of the landmark UN Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow.

Her Majesty was due to attend a diplomatic reception at the forthcoming summit, at which the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will also be present.

Both Prince Charles and Prince William are expected to give speeches and hold talks with a handful of world leaders.