Queen makes first public appearance for a month after heavy cold over Christmas

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The Queen arrived by car for service at St Mary Magdalene Church on Norfolk estate earlier this morning
She has been suffering with cold over Christmas and did not attend Christmas Day and New Year's services
90-year-old was accompanied by Duke of Edinburgh and other senior royals, as well as the Middleton family

By Emily Chan and Alex Matthews For Mailonline

Published: 06:00 EST, 8 January 2017 | Updated: 15:13 EST, 8 January 2017

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The Queen has made her first public appearance for a month after being struck down with a heavy cold over Christmas.

The 90-year-old monarch attended church at Sandringham today, after missing the traditional Christmas and New Year's services for the first time due to ill health.

The Queen, who wore a royal blue coat and matching hat, arrived by car at St Mary Magdalene Church with Prince Philip just before 11am this morning.

The monarch, who also wore black gloves, was seen covering herself with a blue blanket as she left the church in her Bentley after spending the best part of a month indoors.

The 90-year-old was seen with a blue blanket over her lap as she left church in her Bentley following the service

The Queen arrived at church at Sandringham today, after missing the traditional Christmas and New Year's church services for the first time

The monarch, wearing royal blue, was seen arriving at St Mary Magdalene Church with Prince Philip, who has also been recovering from a heavy cold

The Duke of Edinburgh, 95, who looked dark around the eyes as he also recovers from a heavy cold, accompanied the Queen to church on the Norfolk estate today.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with the Middleton family, walked to the church service this morning from Sandringham House.

Kate, who turns 35 on Monday, wore a designer green coat by Sportmax for the service, which she paired with a grey fur hat and black court shoes.

Her parents Carole, 61, and Michael, 67, along with sister Pippa, 33, and brother James, 29, also attended the service.

Pippa, who wore a structured brown coat with a matching hat for the service, was also accompanied by her fiancé James Matthews, 41, this morning. The pair are set to get married in Bucklebury, Berkshire, this May.

Prince William, 34, and Kate, who turns 35 tomorrow, appeared to be in good spirits as they attended the service

The Duchess of Cambridge beamed as they greeted well-wishers waiting outside church this morning

William looked animated as he and Kate, who wore a green coat and grey fur hat, walked past well-wishers

Kate and William looked happy and relaxed while greeting well-wishers as they left St Mary Magdalene Church earlier today

The Duchess of Cambridge's parents Carole (far right) and Michael (centre front), sister Pippa (far left) and brother James (centre back) walked to the church service this morning from Sandringham House

Carole Middleton, 61, who wore a dark coat with a grey fur trim, and her husband Michael, 67, looked relaxed outside church

Pippa, 33, (far left) wore a structured brown coat with a matching hat for the service, along with black court shoes

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, spent Christmas with the Middleton family, rather than at Sandringham

Pippa was also accompanied by fiancé James Matthews (left), at today's church service

Buckingham Palace refused to comment on how long the Middletons would be staying at Sandringham.

Kate is expected to celebrate her 35th birthday privately with the Duke of Cambridge and her children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, ahead of her first public engagements of the new year.

The Queen broke protocol for the first time ever when she decided not to attend the traditional Christmas and New Year's church services over the festive period.

Buckingham Palace had earlier declined to comment on the Queen's health and whether she would be attending the church service today.

The monarch delayed her annual trip to Sandringham before Christmas due to her cold.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge beamed as they left the Sunday service and walked back to Sandringham House

Kate is expected to celebrate her 35th birthday with William and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte

Prince William waved to members of the public as he and Kate walked through the Sandringham Estate after church

William spoke to well-wishers who had gathered outside the church on the Norfolk estate this morning

Kate wore a £1,541 coat by Sportmax for the service, which she previously wore at Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2015

The couple, who spent Christmas with the Middleton family in Bucklebury, Berkshire, did not attend the Christmas Day or New Year's services at Sandringham

A crowd of well-wishers gathered to greet William and Kate as they attended the church service this morning

She travelled one day later than planned and used a helicopter rather than a train to shorten the travel time.

Prince Philip, 95, also suffered from the heavy cold but managed to recover enough to attend the service at Christmas and New Year's Day.

Princess Anne had told well-wishers that her mother was feeling 'better' as she attended the New Year's service with her father last Sunday.

Royal sources suggested that the Queen had a persistent 'hacking cough' and was staying away from church as she did not want to disturb other worshippers.

The 90-year-old was seen covering herself with a blue blanket as she got into her Bentley earlier today

She left church with the Duke of Edinburgh, who has also been recovering from a heavy cold over the Christmas period

The Queen's prolonged illness had raised some concerns because colds and flus can be dangerous for elderly people

The Queen wore a royal blue coat with a matching hat and black gloves at church at Sandringham this morning

The monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh left by car after attending the 11am service at St Mary Magdalene Church

The Queen, wearing a royal blue coat with a matching hat and black gloves, left the service with the Duke of Edinburgh

The Queen, who was carrying her favourite Launer black handbag, making her way to the church this morning

The Queen broke protocol for the first time ever when she decided not to attend the traditional Christmas and New Year's church services over the festive period

The Palace's last official statement was last Sunday morning when it was confirmed that the Queen would not be attending last week's service.

The statement only said: 'The Queen does not yet feel ready to attend church as she is still recuperating from a heavy cold.'

Her prolonged illness had raised some concerns because colds and flus can be dangerous for elderly people.

The Queen has generally been in good health in recent years, although she has cut down somewhat on her traveling and public appearances.

Buckingham Palace had earlier refused to comment on the Queen's health and whether she would be attending the church service today

The monarch had delayed her annual trip to Sandringham before Christmas due to the heavy cold

The monarch was pictured covering herself with a blue blanket as she left church by car earlier today

Members of the public were waiting outside as the 90-year-old arrived at church by car this morning

Carole and Michael Middleton, along with their son James, outside church following the service this morning

Michael Middleton and son James walking to the St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham this morning

However, signs of the monarch being on the mend were revealed earlier this week when she presented a trusted member of staff with an honour.

The Queen invested Ray Wheaton, the Queen's Page of the Chambers, with the insignia of a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, according to the court circular.

The LVO, which is the Queen's personal gift and is bestowed independently of 10 Downing Street, recognises service to the Royal Family and household.

THE QUEEN: UNDER THE WEATHER BUT KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

Before today's church service, it is believed that the Queen was last seen in public on December 1 when she was photographed visiting the Goodenough College for British and international postgraduate students in London.

She also had a string of public engagements in the first two weeks December meeting politicians and diplomats behind closed doors at Buckingham Palace.

The last time she is believed to have been officially photographed was at a ceremony to meet the High Commissioner of Bangladesh and the Ambassador to Liberia on December 9.

The Queen and Philip also attended the private funeral of her cousin and lifelong friend Margaret Rhodes, 91, at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park on December 12.

She and Philip are also thought to have hosted their traditional party for Buckingham palace staff on December 20.

She was also said to be up and about and dealing with her red boxes of official papers.

On Tuesday she sent a message of condolence to the President of Turkey, following the attack in an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day that killed 39 people.

The Queen said she and Philip were saddened and that their thoughts were with the families of the victims and with the Turkish people.

The Queen (pictured, during her Christmas speech) presented a trusted member of staff with an honour this week

Reports claimed the Queen was almost shot by one of her own guards while she took a late-night stroll through Buckingham Palace's grounds earlier this week

It has certainly been an eventful week for the elderly monarch, with reports claiming that she was almost shot by one of her own guards while she took a late-night stroll through Buckingham Palace's grounds.

The guard is said to have shouted into the darkness when he spotted a figure walking around Buckingham Palace at 3am, believing it might be an intruder.

But the shadowy suspect was in fact Her Majesty, who had stepped out for some fresh air because she couldn't sleep.

The guard confessed to Her Majesty he had nearly fired his weapon, to which she quipped: 'Next time I'll ring through beforehand so you don't have to shoot me.'