9 Jan 2017

Queen makes first appearance of 2017

10:53 am on 9 January 2017

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has made her first public appearance of 2017.

This file photo taken on December 25, 2015 shows Britain's Queen Elizabeth II attending a traditional Christmas Day Church Service at Sandringham in eastern England.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, pictured here on Christmas Day 2015, made her first public appearance in more than a month on Sunday after missing traditional Christmas events because of a heavy cold. Photo: AFP

The Queen, who missed church services she normally attends on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, attended the morning service at St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, Norfolk, yesterday.

Buckingham Palace said she was recuperating from a heavy cold.

A small crowd of people greeted the Queen, 90, as she was driven the short distance to the church in a burgundy Bentley, accompanied by Philip, who also suffered illness over Christmas.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the service after walking the short distance from the house to the church, but there was no sign of Prince George or Princess Charlotte.

The Queen, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, has generally been in good health in recent years, although she has cut down on travel and public appearances as she entered her tenth decade.

She carried out other duties during her cold.

- BBC / AAP