DESPITE cutting her arm in a fall, the Queen Mother was today planning to travel to Windsor for the funeral of her daughter Princess Margaret.

The 101-year-old royal was intending to travel from Sandringham, the Queen's Norfolk residence, to the Royal Lodge, at Windsor, royal sources said.

Princess Margaret's coffin was also making its way to Windsor, ahead of tomorrow's private funeral service.

The coffin was being taken from the Queen's chapel in St James's Palace to the ancient St George's Chapel, Windsor.

The Queen Mother was said to be "very hopeful" of making it to Windsor for the funeral, despite cutting her arm yesterday when she slipped getting up from a chair in her sitting room.

A doctor was called to the royal Norfolk estate and the wound was dressed.

It was a relatively minor accident and a lucky escape. At her great age, any such slip or stumble is seen as serious.

It is understood that the Queen Mother was on her own when she stumbled.

"Her maid and footman were in the next room, heard a bump and rushed to her aid," said a royal source. "She is determined not to miss the Princess's funeral."

She has been at Sandringham since before Christmas and has not been seen in public since November after suffering a bad cold and chesty cough.

Sources said she was coping remarkably well with the royal bereavement.

Senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry, are expected to gather at Windsor for the funeral service, which starts at 3pm tomorrow.

The Princess Royal is expected to return from America, where she is at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, in time for the funeral.

Stephen Byers' spin doctor Jo Moore was again at the centre of controversy today over claims that she proposed releasing bad news on the day of Margaret's funeral.

Two national newspapers printed details of an e-mail allegedly sent to Ms Moore by the director of communications at Mr Byers' Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, vetoing the suggestion.

But the DTLR dismissed the supposed e-mail as "fictitious" and Ms Moore issued a forthright denial.