A NEAR MISS FOR HER MAJESTY

It was the last state occasion before the world changed. On 9 March, 2020 – Commonwealth Day – senior members of the Royal Family and the Prime Minister joined the Queen at Westminster Abbey for the annual service in honour of her favourite organisation. Coronavirus was already on British soil, with more than 300 confirmed cases and five deaths. Behind the scenes, the Government was making dramatic plans but ministers advised ‘business as usual’ for the House of Windsor.

The big story of the day was the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were bowing out of frontline royal duties, ahead of their new life overseas. I was in Westminster Abbey that day, watching the Royal Family meeting as many people as possible. It was a delightful service with traditional hymns (Immortal, Invisible; Love Divine), an appearance by Craig David and a poignant address by the champion boxer Anthony Joshua. No one thought much of the sight of the Prince of Wales whispering in the Queen’s ear during a lu ll in the proceedings (above). The only overt sign of anything unusual was the conscious effort not to shake hands – very odd for a royal event. Prince Harry made a point of cheekily ‘elbow-bumping’ singer David. The Prince of Wales performed his ‘namaste’ greeting as he went down the greeting lines. The Queen smiled and nodded. No one was to know that one of the flag-bearers had already contracted the virus. Within three weeks, the Prince of Wales and the PM would be suffering, too. It was a near miss for Her Majesty.