The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are forgoing their usual Christmas stay at Sandringham this year, choosing to stay at Windsor Castle for the festive season.
“Having considered all the appropriate advice, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have decided that this year they will spend Christmas quietly in Windsor,” Buckingham Palace said.
The Queen is going to spend Christmas at Windsor Castle (BasPhoto/Shutterstock)
The royal couple usually head to Sandringham in the middle of December, and return early February after Accession Day., the day Princess Elizabeth became Queen. George VI died at Sandringham on 6th February 1952.
However, this tradition only began in 1988, when Windsor Castle was undergoing renovations and so the Monarch chose her Norfolk home for the occasion.
The Queen attends Christmas Day Service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, 2019.
Sandringham House, Norfolk (John Fielding)
Since then, we have seen the Royal Family attending church on Christmas Day, greeting the public, who often gather to hand over cards and flowers, and to shake hands. Of course, this would not be possible this year, so this seems a sensible move.
Windsor has been the chosen location for Prince Philip and The Queen to spend lockdown, creating a ‘bubble’ to help protect the nonagenarians.
They recently celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary there.
