Queen wished speedy recovery by former army head

The Queen was wished a speedy recovery from her illness by a former head of the army during a service yesterday marking the 175th anniversary of a forces’ Christian charity.

General Lord Dannatt told the Duke of Edinburgh, who was part of a congregation gathered at the Guards Chapel in London to celebrate the birthday of the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Association (Sasra), to convey his best wishes to the Queen.

She has been suffering the symptoms of gastroenteritis and has missed several public events.

The Queen is patron of Sasra, which sends its scripture readers into barracks and air bases.

Lord Dannatt, who is its president, told the duke: “When we sang the national anthem a minute or two ago, it was from the bottom of our hearts that we sang God Save the Queen.”