FILE – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II meets with members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 in Windsor, England.
Queen Elizabeth II has decided not to spend Christmas at the royal Sandringham estate in eastern England amid concerns about the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
The palace said on Monday that the 95-year-old Queen would spend the holidays at Windsor Castle, west of London, where she has stayed for most of the pandemic.
Other members of the royal family are expected to arrive over the Christmas period, with precautions taken against spreading the virus.
Coronavirus infections in the UK are on the rise – up 60% in a week – Omicron turns Delta to major version, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said more new restrictions may have to be put in place to slow its spread Huh. His health minister has refused to implement the new measures before Christmas.
For years, members of Britain’s extended royal family have spent the holidays at Sandringham, where crowds gather to see them at the local church on Christmas Day.
The Queen has cut back on travel and work since spending a night in the hospital in October and being told to rest by doctors. Since then he has performed light duties, including virtual audiences with diplomats and weekly interactions with the prime minister.
It is the Queen’s first Christmas since the death of her 73-year-old husband Prince Philip at the age of 99 in April. The royal couple spent their final Christmas together in Windsor last year.
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