The Queen could be forced to cancel her visit to Chelmsford after undergoing knee surgery this week.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that doctors had ordered the 76-year-old monarch to rest at Sandringham for two weeks before resuming a limited programme of engagements.
Her Chelmsford visit is due to take place on January 31 and would be only her second engagement this year and the first outside Sandringham.
The Queen is scheduled to attend a service at Chelmsford Cathedral to commemorate the 50th anniversary of severe Essex floods. She is also due to attend a lunch at County Hall.
A palace spokesman said: "We really can't speculate what is going to happen over the next three weeks. Her visit to Chelmsford is still listed as an engagement, but it may be liable to change.
"We will have to see how the leg settles down. It is a shame and she would hate to miss any engagement."
Published Thursday, January 16, 2003
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