Europe

Queen, Philip set off for Christmas trip after delay

Associated Press
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FILE - This is a Tuesday, June, 14, 2016 file photo of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as she arrives by carriage on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse race meeting at Ascot, England. Buckingham Palace officials said Wednesday Dec. 21, 2016 that Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip have delayed their planned Christmas trip because both are suffering from heavy colds. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant/file) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Saturday, June 11, 2016 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip ride in a carriage during the Trooping The Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, in London. Buckingham Palace officials say Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip have delayed their planned Christmas trip because both are suffering from heavy colds. The palace said the pair had been planning to travel by train to the queen's country estate Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016 but have postponed the trip. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland, file) (The Associated Press)

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip are on their way to their country estate to celebrate Christmas after the couple delayed their trip for a day due to illness.

Royal officials said Wednesday that both the queen and Philip were suffering from heavy colds and had to call off their train trip to Sandringham, the queen's private estate in the Norfolk countryside 110 miles (175 kilometers) north of London. The royal family traditionally gathers at Sandringham each Christmas and spends the festive season there.

The couple appeared to have recovered somewhat Thursday, with officials confirming their departure from Buckingham Palace in London. The BBC reported that the pair travelled by helicopter.

The queen turned 90 this year and Philip is 95.