Queen speaks of 'excitement and drama' of 2012 in Christmas speech "As London hosted a splendid summer of sport, all those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes," the monarch says. In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama. Aides said that the monarch had readily embraced the new technology. She is understood to have watched the broadcast back in 3D and thought it was "absolutely lovely." In a break with tradition, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will not be joining the rest of the Royal Family at Sandringham on Christmas Day this year as they will be staying at the Middleton family home in Berkshire. Prince Harry, will also be absent as he is serving as an Apache pilot in Afghanistan. But it was the absence of the Queen which provoked most discussion among the 100 or so people gathered yesterday outside the 16th Century parish church which the Royal Family faithfully attend while staying on the estate. Mary Relph, 78, who has been there every time the monarch has attended a service since 1988, said: "I don't remember her ever missing it ... I am disappointed but I hope she is OK." Health officials have noted a marked rise in cases of cold and flu in recent days, which has added to pressure on hospitals struggling with record levels of norovirus. A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace said: "She is getting over the end of a cold, she wanted to make sure that was done before Christmas. We are expecting business as usual next week. The Duke of Edinburgh, 91, who missed the celebrations last year after being taken to hospital for a procedure to clear a blocked artery, led the royal party, arriving on foot for the service. He was accompanied by the Duke of York, the Earl and the Countess of Wessex, their daughter Lady Louise and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, was among those suffering from the outbreak of sickness as he prepares for Christmas. He posted a message of Twitter reading: "Cold, chest infection, asthma, 111 call, good advice, appointment, pills, improving. NHS, annual Christmas present to the UK. #thanks4NHS