The Queen will spend Christmas at Windsor Castle as she won’t travel to Sandringham

Elly Blake21 December 2021

The Queen will not follow her usual tradition by spending Christmas at Sandringham this year, Buckingham Palace has said.

Instead, she will spend the festive period at Windsor Castle where the 95-year-old monarch will be visited by family members.

Buckingham Palace aides described the move as a personal decision and “reflects a precautionary approach”.

All appropriate guidelines will be followed for any visitors to the Queen over Christmas, Buckingham Palace added.

It is understood Downing Street was informed of the decision but had no part in the decision-making process.

Last week, it was announced the Queen would not go ahead with her family pre-Christmas lunch over fears about the spread of the Omicron variant.

The Queen was planning to welcome 50 or so relatives, including Prince Charles and Camilla, to an event at Windsor Castle this week.

It is understood the decision to cancel the lunch was a precaution.

Last year’s lunch was also scrapped because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Most years the Queen invites her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to join her at Buckingham Palace before she departs for her annual Christmas stay at Sandringham.

However, the lunch was due to take place at Windsor as the palace is undergoing major renovation works at present.

The pre-Christmas celebration gives the head of state a chance to catch up with relatives who are unable to travel to Norfolk for Christmas Day.

This Christmas is the Queen’s first since the death of her husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh.

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