The Queen will host the annual Royal Household Christmas lunch on Tuesday regardless of fears over the Omicron Covid variant, sources have revealed.
The 95-year-old monarch is urgent on with the occasion at Windsor Fortress, which is predicted to welcome 50 or so kinfolk, together with Prince Charles and Camilla.
And whereas three of her 4 new grandchildren – August (pictured), Lucas and Siena – are anticipated to attend, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and their son Archie and new child Lilibet, additionally born this yr, will stay within the US.
The Queen’s late husband Prince Phillip will even be noticeably absent, in what will likely be her first Christmas with out him in 73 years after he died in April aged 99.
The Queen’s annual Christmas lunch, normally held at Buckingham Palace, needed to be known as off final yr when more durable restrictions had been introduced in amid the surge of the Delta Covid pressure. However strikes to cancel the occasion this yr are reportedly being resisted.
Sooner or later after the festive social gathering, which can function wine, crackers and a feast, the Queen will journey by helicopter to Sandringham (pictured) in Norfolk, the place she’s going to spend Christmas itself.
The Royal Household will later be a part of her there on Christmas Eve and collect on December 25, as is custom, earlier than visiting St Mary Magdalene Church.
A supply informed the Solar : ‘Presently it’s going forward however clearly will probably be underneath evaluation proper up till the final second.’
The Queen is at present residing in Windsor Fortress (pictured), the place she stays on ‘gentle duties’ following a number of well being scares in latest weeks.
An insider added: ‘It’s Windsor Fortress so will probably be fairly simple to socially distance if wanted. There is no such thing as a manner the Queen desires to let something get in the best way of a household occasion like this. Notably with the yr she has had after dropping her husband and being compelled to go on gentle duties on physician’s orders.’
‘It should seemingly be the primary time so many relations have been collectively since Philip’s funeral,’ the supply continued. ‘However clearly everybody should act responsibly and issues can change in a brief time frame however because it stands they’re all set for Tuesday.’
An ITV movie crew recorded the Queen’s Christmas Day tackle (not pictured) a number of weeks in the past. The Mail reported final week that palace aides had been additionally exploring choices for the monarch to look in public within the run as much as December 25 to want the nation a really comfortable Christmas.
Though images and movies have been launched by Buckingham Palace of the sovereign enterprise in-person and digital audiences with overseas ambassadors, dignitaries and the Prime Minister, all conferences have taken place behind palace partitions.
The hope is that the Queen will likely be nicely sufficient to participate in a brief public engagement within the fort grounds. Her look will likely be seen as a ‘small shot of pleasure’ in tough occasions.
‘It received’t be a traditional Christmas, however like many households across the nation, will probably be as regular as it could possibly get,’ a supply mentioned.
The Queen was final seen in public at a Windsor Fortress reception on October 19. The following day, she canceled a visit to Northern Eire and was taken to hospital in a single day for undisclosed ‘preliminary exams’.
She was ordered to relaxation for a number of weeks and since then has undertaken a small variety of low-key engagements, together with recording a video message for the Cop26 summit.
