Britain's Queen Elizabeth II today flew out from Buckingham Palace in a helicopter with husband Prince Philip to their Sandringham country retreat for Christmas.
The couple's travel plans had been changed from the traditional departure on December 21 by train from London as they were suffering from "heavy colds".
It took the 90-year-old monarch and her 95-year-old husband just 45 minutes to arrive at their home Norfolk, in the East Anglia region of England.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed the royal couple "had left" for their annual Christmas break.
Earlier, it was confirmed that the customary Queen's Christmas message would be broadcast as usual at 1500 GMT on Christmas Day.
"It is recorded some time in advance," a spokesperson said.
Buckingham Palace had said that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have heavy colds, and so have decided not to travel to Sandringham today.
The Queen and Prince Philip usually take the same first-class service from London to King's Lynn station, from where theytravel on to the royal estate of Sandringham.
This year the plans were changed due to ill health.
On Tuesday, the couple hosted a festive lunch for the royal family - a tradition they carry out before travelling to their private estate each year.
Prince William was seen arriving with wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, brother Prince Harry, and three-year-old son Prince George.
The decision to change the monarch's Christmas travel plans came after Buckingham Palace had announced earlier in the week that the Queen would be stepping down from being patron of 25 charities.
Her patronages will be handed over to other members of the Royal Family.
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