The Queen's 12 (sick) days of Christmas: STILL no sign of Her Majesty as she misses church service for second week running after falling ill with 'heavy cold' - but Princess Anne says her mother is 'on the mend' as Philip braves the rain

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Princess Anne insisted the Queen was feeling 'better' today even though her mother was too ill to attend church at Sandringham.

The Princess Royal spoke out in an apparent bid to calm fears over the health of the 90-year-old Queen who has not been seen in public for almost two weeks.

An onlooker asked how the Queen was as she briskly walked the 400 yards from Sandringham House to the village's St Mary Magdalene church.

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The Duke of Edinburgh attended the church service without the Queen who was still recovering at Sandringham House

Prince Philip was watched over by protection officers and police whilst attending the service 

The Queen's husband was driven in a Range Rover to the service which the couple usually attend whilst they are in Sandringham 

Philip seen leaving the church service which lasted just under an hour in Norfolk  

The Countess of Wessex leaving St Mary Magdalene Church after the New Year's Day service

Prince Edward carried an umbrella as he walked through the rain to the service

Prince Edward with his daughter Lady Louise Windsor arriving at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene

Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence attended the church service

Anne, 66, who was wearing a lilac coloured outfit smiled and replied with the single word, 'Better'.

Her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, 61, who was walking with her was also asked how the Queen was feeling and replied: 'Not too bad.'

Buckingham Palace announced shortly before the service that the Queen would not be attending as she was still 'recuperating from a heavy cold'.

Royal sources suggested that Queen was 'up and about' in Sandringham House, but staying in the warmth.

It was first officially confirmed on December 21 that the Queen and 95-year-old Prince Phillip were suffering from heavy colds.

The illness forced the Queen to miss the Christmas Day service in Sandringham for the first time in 28 years.

Philip who is known for his robust health was well enough to walk to church on Christmas morning with Prince Charles, Prince Harry and other family members.

But Philip was driven to the service in a Range Rover to avoid getting wet in the pouring rain. He was accompanied in the car by Sophie, Countess Wessex.

Prince Edward and his daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 13, chose to walk to and from the church with Anne and her husband.

There was no sign of Prince William and wife Kate who have not been seen at Sandringham during the Royal family's traditional Christmas break on the 20,000 acre estate in north Norfolk.

This mother and child were screened by a police woman before they were allowed into the church's grounds

Even the toddler needed to be searched before the child was permitted to go any further 

The royals regularly attend Sunday church service whilst in residence at Sandringham 

The couple had spent Christmas with children Prince George and Princess Charlotte with Kate's parents and other members of the Middleton family at their home in Berkshire.

Philip smiled at the crowd and joked about the weather as he emerged from the 16th century church.

As he walked back to Sandringham House, Edward wished a Happy New Year to onlookers, saying: 'Let's hope it gets better. It can't get much worse.'

A crowd of around 250 people had braved the cold and lashing rain to stand outside the church.

Lynn Willert, 68, a hypnotherapist from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said: 'I was very disappointed not to see the Queen, but it is very sensible of her to put herself first and stay indoors.

'Anybody would be worried about illness at her age, but she certainly has this tremendous fortitude. I don't know how she does it. I think she is our little gem. She has got to look after herself more and not keep pushing on.

A police officer and sniffer dog patrol the grounds as the royals attend the church service

Members of the public were screened before they were allowed on to the church's grounds

'The trouble is that when an elderly person gets a cold, it can turn into pneumonia which can really dangerous. But she is a tremendously strong woman which will get her through whatever she has got.'

Child minder Mandy Amps, 56, of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, who was at the church with her son Luke, 23, and his Australian girlfriend Jenna Bonaccorsi, 22, said: 'I was hoping to see the Queen if she was well enough, but I knew she was poorly, bless her.

'I am sure she would have been here if she felt up to it, but her health has to come first and it has to be her priority.'

Miss Bonaccorsi, an office administrator, from Australia's Gold Coast added: 'I had never seen a member of the Royal family before. I was hoping to see the Queen, but I can understand why she is not here. It was nice to see everyone else.'

Visitors look on as the royals, plus their protection officers, walk towards the church

Police searched well-wishers who turned up to attend the church service in Norfolk

Horticultural worker John Disdel, 69, from Gedney Drove End, Lincolnshire, said: 'I didn't really expect the Queen to attend. Being wrapped up warm at home is the best place for a 90-year-old who is ill.

'We believe in the Royal family. It's what it is all about. You can't read anything into her not being here.'

Mr Disdel's wife Pam, 63, added: 'She has made the right choice by not coming out. We wish her well and hope she soon gets better.'

Catherine Jarvis, 40, of Loughton, Essex, who was at the church with husband Jim, 43, and children Olivia, six, and Henry, four, said: 'I had an inkling she would not be coming as she missed church on Christmas Day so it was not much of a surprise to not see her.

'We are just hoping she is OK. She doesn't have to come out and prove anything to us. Christmas is all about being with your family.'

Alan Mowton, 57, of Fosdyke, Lincolnshire, said: 'It is understandable that the Queen stayed away. It is hardly ideal to come out in this weather if you are ill. I hope she is fit enough to come to church another week.'

Buckingham Palace announced the decision on Sunday morning after it was revealed yesterday that the 90-year-old monarch was still recovering from the illness

Prince Philip pictured here attending the Christmas Day service last week in Sandringham 

The Queen recently stepped down as patron for about 20 charities and groups to lighten her work load

The service which lasted around an hour, included carols and readings.

Prayers were said for the 'gracious Queen' and other members of the Royal family as well as those affected by violence in the Middle East and victims of recent terrorist attacks.

The sermon was given by the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham James who spoke about the importance of the Christmas story in an 'unstable and frightening' world.

The Queen and Philip were due to catch a train as usual from London to King's Lynn to start their Christmas break on December 21, but cancelled their plans at the last minute due to their illness.

Instead the couple were flown directly from Buckingham Palace to Sandringham by helicopter the following day.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman announced the Queen would not be at church in a short statement this morning, saying: 'Her Majesty The Queen will not attend Sunday worship at Sandringham today.

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

Buckingham Palace was forced to confirm last week that the Queen had not died after hoaxers announced her 'death' in a fake BBC Twitter account.