THE Queen will not be present to inaugurate the new General Synod next week, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. Prince Edward will represent her. She will, however, attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph.

The Queen, who is 95, has recently cancelled a series of engagements on medical advice, after being admitted to hospital for tests last month. On 29 October, Buckingham Palace confirmed that she had been told to rest for two weeks.

The Palace said in a statement on Friday: “The Queen will attend the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph on Sunday 14th November. As in previous years Her Majesty will view the service from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building.

“Mindful of her doctors’ recent advice, the Queen has decided not to attend the General Synod Service and Opening Session on Tuesday 16th November. The Earl of Wessex will attend as planned.”

It is the first time that the Queen has missed a quinquennial inauguration of the Synod since the first in 1970.

The newly elected members of the Synod will attend the inauguration in Church House on Tuesday, after a service in Westminster Abbey. Two days of speeches and debates are to follow (News, 5 November). The session on Wednesday opens with the Loyal Address from the two Archbishops, which will be received by Prince Edward.