In a positive sign that things aren't perhaps as bad as feared — there are certainly more than a few frissons of nerves in the mornings papers — Buckingham Palace has revealed that the injured Queen will journey to Newmarket in Suffolk later today for a private lunch with the Jockey Club, of which she is Patron.

It had been reported yesterday that Her Majesty, who cancelled a visit to Arsenal Football Club due to a recurring back strain, would miss out on the chance to once again celebrate her 80th birthday with a special event at Newmarket Racecourse.

However, it now appears the Queen will travel to Suffolk for a private lunch with stewards at the Jockey Club (of which she is Patron) but, no doubt much to her disappointment, won't be able to enjoy an afternoon of races, all of which have been named after notable horses owned by the monarch. These include Monaveen, Highclere, Dunfermline, Pall Mall, Doutelle, Aureole and Canisbay.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Queen will spend around two hours at the private event, a spokeswoman saying: "The Queen is going to attend lunch at the Jockey Club in Newmarket, but she's not going to the races. There will be no standing around. Doctors are taking it on a day-by-day basis."

Today's newspapers extensively report on the Queen's back injury, the Daily Express going so far as to make the story a front page splash.

The news of the monarch's injury comes as The Spectator magazine — very much the voice of the Conservative Establishment in Britain — reports in the newly-released edition on Prince Charles's plans to have not one but two Coronation ceremonies so as to establish his reign as being inclusive of all faiths. As critics have said, the Prince is essentially planning to tear-up 1,000 years of history by making extensive changes to the Coronation service.

It's also reported in what is a fascinating and exhaustive feature by Tim Walker — a well-respected journalist — that the order has gone out for the approximately 500 members of the Privy Council to make sure that the Prince of Wales has their correct contact details in case he needs to get in touch.

It's likely a standard practice, the kind of letter which has been circulated by the Clerk of The Privy Council for many years, but clearly the wheels are in motion for the day when King Charles, supported by Queen Camilla (as The Spectator reports the Duchess WILL become), accedes to the throne.

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