Was royal trip canceled because of Philip?

LONDON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Queen Elizabeth II of Britain has canceled her usual spring state visit, giving rise to speculation that her husband's recent health problems are the reason.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, recently injured his back. He skipped church and a shooting party at Sandringham, the royal retreat in Norfolk last weekend.

Palace sources denied that the 87-year-old prince's health had anything to do with the change in plans, The Daily Mail reported. They said that the queen had "too much on" to make the trip, reportedly to Dubai, or that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had been dilatory on arrangements.

The queen usually makes two state visits, one in the spring and the other in the fall. She has missed only two, one immediately after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the other just before the invasion of Iraq.

Both Elizabeth at 83 and her husband have enjoyed robust health. Last year, Philip had a chest infection that kept him out of commission for several days and he hurt his back while driving a carriage at Sandringham.