The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh delay Christmas plans at last minute due to 'heavy colds'

Royals were due to travel to Sandringham estate in Norfolk this morning

Queen Elizabeth is still expected to arrive at the estate before Christmas (Getty)

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have delayed their Christmas plans at the last minute because they are both suffering “heavy colds”, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson has announced.

The royals were due to travel to Sandringham estate in Norfolk from London but cancelled the trip after they fell ill.

For years, the 90-year-old head of state has spent Christmas at the Grade II-listed country house near King’s Lynn, travelling from King’s Cross by first-class train.

A garden party hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at the Sandringham estate in 2012 (Getty Images)

There was a heavy police and media presence at the station this morning ahead of the monarch's planned departure on the 10:44am service.

But the crowd of photographers and officers dispersed when they were told “it’s not happening now”, half an hour before the royals were due to arrive.

“The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have heavy colds, and so have decided not to travel to Sandringham today,” said the palace spokesperson.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip usually stay at Sandringham until early February and are expected to still arrive in time for Christmas.

News of the royal couple’s illness follows yesterday’s announcement that the monarch plans to step down as patron of a number organisations and charities before her 91st birthday.

She will pass on patronages from organisations including the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, NSPCC, Barnardo’s and Save the Children UK to other members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth is now the longest reigning living monarch in the world after the death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October.

“At the end of the Queen’s 90th birthday year, Her Majesty will step down as patron from a number of national organisations,” said the Palace in a statement.

“Her Majesty will continue to serve as patron to hundreds of charities and institutions but will now share this work with her family.”

“This decision follows the example set by the Duke of Edinburgh who resigned from a number of patronages on the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2011,” it added.