Queen Elizabeth Will Return to Buckingham Palace for Events This Fall, Despite Ongoing Pandemic

Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images
Photo credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

From Town & Country

Queen Elizabeth will soon wrap up her annual end-of-summer stay at Balmoral, her royal residence in Scotland—and when she returns, her life will begin to look more like it did before the pandemic.

The Queen and her husband Prince Philip had been staying at Windsor Castle since March due to COVID-19 before traveling north to Balmoral earlier this summer; at both locations, the couple reportedly relied on a "bubble" of staffers to minimize their potential exposure to the virus. (At 94 and 99, respectively, the Queen and the Prince are both in a high-risk category, as the coronavirus disproportionately harms the elderly.)

Now, they're set to travel to Sandringham, the Queen's Norfolk estate, before moving back into Windsor; what's more, the Queen will even return to Buckingham Palace—the seat of the monarchy, which she hasn't seen for months—for some engagements and audiences.

Photo credit: Heritage Images - Getty Images
Photo credit: Heritage Images - Getty Images

"The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will depart Balmoral Castle during the week commencing 14th September to spend time privately on the Sandringham Estate," said a Buckingham Palace spokesperson. "Subject to the finalization of the autumn program, Her Majesty’s intention is to return to Windsor Castle in October and to resume the use of Buckingham Palace for selected audiences and engagements. These plans will be kept under review and will of course be subject to all relevant guidance and advice."

There's no word yet on what engagements and audiences, exactly, the Queen will attend in-person at the palace.

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