According to various reports, Her Majesty will be withdrawing from public duties for months due to the Coronavirus and will remain at Windsor Castle where she relocated with her husband Prince Philip just before Easter.
The 94-year-old monarch will remain there “indefinitely.” It is expected to be her longest absence from royal engagements in her entire 68-year reign, according to The Sunday Times.
The media outlet’s royal correspondent noted that her diary of engagements up until autumn has been put on hold and plans are still undecided for the October state visit from South Africa.
It has also been reported that Buckingham Palace will be closed this summer amid the COVID-19 crisis. It is believed to be the first time in 27 years that this will happen. Various royal engagements and events have been cancelled or postponed including Her Majesty’s Birthday Parade, garden parties, Trooping of the Colour, and the Order of the Garter Service.
The Queen’s birthday gun salutes in April were also cancelled as she deemed it inappropriate during this time.
In these trying times, she has issued messages of encouragement and has addressed the UK and Commonwealth in a rare speech she’s only given three other times during her reign.