Queen to work from home until next year
Small meetings at Palace – but no major ceremonies
The Queen has cancelled all large- scale receptions and investitures for the rest of the year due to the Covid crisis, it was announced yesterday.
Royal officials said it would be impossible to hold functions, such as handing out honours, in line with current government guidelines at either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.
Those expecting to receive awards such as knighthoods, CBes and OBes will be contacted by the Palace directly about alternative arrangements.
Aides said the decision had been taken with great reluctance and they had looked at ways of trying to hold smaller events.
But in the end they could see no other way of holding such occasions safely, they said.
however, officials stressed that the Queen would continue with plans to move to Windsor Castle from Sandringham and would then ‘commute’ to Buckingham Palace to hold meetings, audiences and small engagements, in line with government advice.
A spokesman said: ‘In line with current government guidelines, and as a sensible precaution in the current circumstances, there will be no large- scale events held at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle for the rest of the year.
‘A variety of possibilities were examined to see if it was possible for investitures to safely take place in line with the guidelines.
‘Sadly, due to the large numbers of guests and recipients attending, it was not possible to find a way of safely delivering these events in the current circumstances. Recipients will be contacted directly.’
They added: ‘The Queen’s intention remains to return to Windsor Castle in October and to resume the use of Buckingham Palace during an autumn programme of audiences and engagements.’
The 94-year-old monarch spent lockdown at Windsor with the Duke of edinburgh, 99, before they moved to Balmoral for the summer, and then on to Sandringham last month. Philip will remain in Norfolk when the Queen returns to Windsor but the pair intend to spend weekends and Christmas in their family ‘bubble’.
Although they have embraced video calls and the Queen has held her weekly meeting with the Prime Minister by phone, members of the Royal Family have been carrying out a small number of socially distanced engagements.
Sources said the plan had always been for Buckingham Palace to be up and running as a ‘working palace’ as soon as was feasibly possible. While it was disappointing not to be able to welcome large numbers of the public, they said plans would be kept under review.
‘A sensible precaution’