The Queen will not attend a New Year's Day church service at Sandringham because of a lingering heavy cold.

She and the Duke of Edinburgh fell ill days before Christmas, forcing her to delay her trip to the Norfolk estate and to miss a Christmas Day ceremony at St Mary Magdalene church.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen was still suffering the effects of the cold and had decided not to attend the service with other members of the royal family.

A Palace spokeswoman said: "Her Majesty The Queen will not attend Sunday worship at Sandringham today.

"The Queen does not yet feel ready to attend church as she is still recuperating from a heavy cold."

The Queen has had the cold for more than a week, although she is understood to be up and about.

The Duke is expected to attend the service, led by the Bishop of Norwich, after fully recovering from his cold.

It is not known whether the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have travelled to Sandringham for new year after they, Prince George and Princess Charlotte spent Christmas with Kate's family at Bucklebury in Berkshire.