Queen Elizabeth has skipped a Commonwealth service in 2013

Her Majesty last missed the service in 2013, when she was suffering from a bad case of gastroenteritis.
Prior to then, the Queen had not missed a Commonwealth Day commemoration in 20 years, the last time being in 1993 when she was sick.

A speech by former archbishop Lord Sentamu, a discourse by young Tongan leader Elizabeth Kite, and special musical performances by Emeli Sande and Mica Paris will be among the highlights of the service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

The Royal Commonwealth Society will host the service, which will include the Queen’s Commonwealth Day address.

The Queen’s first big public appearance since hitting her Platinum Jubilee milestone in February would have been during the service.

Royal pundits are likely to take her choice not to attend as a preventive measure and a practical move, rather than a new health concern.