The Queen, 94, to self-isolate 'for months': Sovereign will stay in Windsor Catle 'indefinitely', miss out on her summer in Balmoral and Buckingham Palace will be closed
- Her Majesty is currently isolating at Windsor Castle with husband Prince Philip
- Monarch to remain at residence indefinitely with summer engagements on hold
- Buckingham Palace will be closed for summer for the first time in 27 years
- Events like Trooping the Colour and the Queen's garden parties are cancelled
- Queen delivered electrifying speech on VE Day praising Britain's lockdown spirit
The Queen will remain at Windsor Castle indefinitely with all her public engagements on hold until the threat from coronavirus clears.
Buckingham Palace will be closed for the summer for what is believed to be the first time in 27 years, with events including Trooping the Colour and Her Majesty's garden parties cancelled, The Sunday Times reports today.
It is believed to be the 94-year-old monarch's longest absence from her official duties in her 68 year reign, with her schedule not expected to resume until into the autumn at the earliest.
The Queen is currently residing at Windsor Castle with her husband Prince Philip, who turns 99 next month.
The Queen will remain at Windsor Castle indefinitely with all her public engagements on hold until the threat from coronavirus clears. Pictured addressing the nation on VE Day on Friday
The couple have been isolated there with a reduced household since March 19. The Queen usually returns from Windsor to her central London residence in May before her annual break at Balmoral in July, which is also expected not to go ahead.
A state visit from South Africa is also on hold for the time being, while investitures will be rearranged to later dates.
The Queen - who delivered an electrifying speech on VE Day praising Britain's spirit during lockdown - has said in the past that she feels she has 'to be seen to be believed', so the measures are expected to be felt deeply by the monarch.
Her last public engagement was the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March - which was also Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's final official appearance as senior members of the Royal Family.
A royal source told the publication: 'The Queen won't do anything which goes against the advice of people in her [age] category and she's going to take all the appropriate advice... she'd want to be seen to be being responsible in her actions.'
The Queen is currently residing at Windsor Castle (pictured yesterday) with her husband Prince Philip, who turns 99 next month
The Queen usually hosts three garden parties at her London home, with charities hosting another two, and a further one is held in July at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland.
The garden parties, during which 27,000 cups of tea are served, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cakes are consumed by 30,000 people from all walks of life, have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s.
Last month there were no gun salutes to mark the Queen's 94th birthday for the first time since she was crowned, and Government buildings were exempt from flying flags if it created a problem.
Elizabeth II said she did not feel gun salutes would be appropriate in the circumstances of the crisis.
At that point Covid-19 had claimed more than 15,000 lives in Britain. That figure is now more than double at 31,587, after Britain announced a further 346 coronavirus deaths yesterday.
The Queen usually hosts three garden parties at her London home, with charities hosting another two, and a further one is held in July at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. Pictured: the Queen at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2018
In line with Government advice to avoid mass gatherings, the ceremonial of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Windsor Castle are postponed until further notice.
With the outbreak making church services impossible, the Queen delivered what was believed to be her first Easter address, which had the resolute message: 'We know that coronavirus will not overcome us.'
That sentiment was echoed in her speech on VE Day, during which she said: 'When I look at our country today, and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire. Never give up, never despair - that was the message of VE Day.'
The wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, due to take place on May 29 at the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace, followed by a private reception hosted by the Queen in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, has also been postponed.
Other significant events in the royal calendar which have been cancelled include Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Horticultural Society's flagship event of the summer.
Other significant events in the royal calendar which have been cancelled include Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Horticultural Society's flagship event of the summer. Pictured: the Queen takes a tour of the Duchess of Cambridge's Back to Nature Garden at the show in 2019
Royal Ascot in June, believed to have been attended every year by the Queen during her reign, has also been called off this year.
In a statement, Guy Henderson, chief executive of the Ascot Racecourse, said: 'For public health and safety reasons we have reached the difficult but unavoidable conclusions that Royal Ascot 2020… will not be able to take place as an event open to the public.'
The Royal Windsor Horse Show this month, another horse-related event close to the monarch's heart, which features show jumping and dressage, will also not be going ahead.
Royal Ascot in June, believed to have been attended every year by the Queen during her reign, has also been called off this year. Pictured: The Queen at Ascot in June 2019
The 2020 Invictus Games, due to be held in The Hague, has been postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19, with Prince Harry marking what would have been the opening ceremony with a video message shared on the event's Twitter account yesterday.
The games brings together current and former wounded, injured or sick servicemen and women from more than 20 countries.
The Duke of Sussex said: 'As we commemorate VE Day this weekend and pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the entire Second World War generation, we should have also been gathering together in the Netherlands to kickstart the Invictus Games 2020 in The Hague.
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