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Story highlights

The Queen, 90 and Prince Philip, 95 leave Palace in a helicopter

The couple were due to travel to Sandringham on Wednesday for their regular Christmas trip

London CNN  — 

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have left for their winter vacation by helicopter after earlier delaying their trip because of “heavy colds.”

“I can confirm that The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have left Buckingham Palace and are traveling to Sandringham” a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace told CNN on Thursday afternoon.

The Queen at 90: The life of Elizabeth II

The royal couple abruptly canceled plans to travel to their country home, Sandringham House in Norfolk, on Wednesday.

The Queen, 90, and her husband, 95, had been due to catch a morning train from London King’s Cross to King’s Lynn for their traditional Christmas holiday, but failed to turn up.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh smiles during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's 603 Squadron on July 4, 2015.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh smiles during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's 603 Squadron on July 4, 2015.
Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Buckingham Palace later issued a statement saying the royal couple had “heavy colds” and decided it would be best to postpone their trip.

This led to speculation about the health of one or both, even though they had been well when they hosted a family lunch for their children and grandchildren at the palace on Tuesday.

Prince Philip: The man behind the queen

Prince Philip recently joked he hasn’t had the flu for 40 years.

CNN’s Max Foster contributed to this report.