In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday March 17 that Queen Elizabeth has canceled her annual garden parties and will be leaving London for Windsor Castle earlier than planned.
Queen Elizabeth will meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and carry out small duties at the palace in the next few days. She will remain in Windsor beyond the Easter period, a decision described by the palace as “a sensible precaution.”
The statement reads, “In consultation with the Medical Household and government, a number of public events with large numbers of people due to have been attended by the queen, and other members of the royal family, in the coming months will be canceled or postponed.”
It was further revealed that the annual Maundy Service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 9 will not go ahead. Planned investitures will also be rearranged.
The British government has advised people, especially those over 70, to avoid “non-essential” contact with others for 12 weeks to slow the spread of the virus, which poses a greater risk for the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.
There is anticipation regarding the decision on whether a planned state visit by the Emperor of Japan should go ahead, which is expected to be made later.
According to the latest figures from the Department of Health and Social Care, 1,950 people in the UK have tested positive for Covid-19 – up by 407 from the day before. 67 British citizens have also died from the virus since it was confirmed in the country.