Queen Elizabeth Returns to Sandringham for Her 96th Birthday
Queen Elizabeth has left Windsor to spend her 96th birthday in Sandringham, a place that has special meaning to her. She will spend her birthday, April 21, staying at Prince Philip's former home, Wood Farm, on the Sandringham Estate. It's unclear whether or not other members of her family will be joining her for her birthday.
Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement that the Queen has traveled to Sandringham for a private break.
When he retired in 2017, Philip spent most of his retirement at Wood Farm, a five-bedroom farmhouse cottage. Per Vanity Fair, "Wood Farm, located on a secluded part of Sandringham that looks out over the sea, is where the queen, Philip, and their children have gone to relax for more than 50 years. When the family is there, servants don’t wear the usual royal uniforms and Philip does not stand on ceremony." It's where the royals have typically gone for privacy.
Sandringham is perhaps best known as the home where the Windsors spend their Christmases; Queen Elizabeth spent Christmas 2021 there after being medically cleared to travel. The estate has long been the beloved country home of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
Due to ongoing mobility issues, the Queen has stepped back from public appearances in recent months. She missed Easter Sunday services at Windsor Castle, and Prince Charles represented her at the traditional Royal Maundy service. Buckingham Palace has previously said that the Queen will continue to carry out "light duties," and conduct virtual audiences from Windsor Castle.
Last week, her grandson, Prince Harry, visited her at Windsor with his wife, Meghan Markle. In a new interview with Hoda Kotb on the Today show, Harry revealed that his grandmother is "on great form."
"Being with her, it was great," he told Kotb. "It was just so nice to see her."
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