Buckingham Palace confirms sad news for the Queen in official statement

Buckingham Palace has confirmed sad news for the Queen in an official statement, as the monarch is forced to self-isolate.

• The Palace has confirmed the Queen will be moving to Windsor Castle today, and is likely to continue to self-isolate there after Easter.
• The announcement comes as she had her last audience at Buckingham Palace this week.
• This follows royal news (opens in new tab) that the first royal to have a confirmed case of Covid-19 has been revealed. (opens in new tab)

As the government advises over-70s to be avoid social contact during the outbreak of coronavirus, Buckingham Palace issued a statement explaining how the Queen is being protected.

Her Majesty will be departing to Windsor one week earlier than planned, and will likely not return to Buckingham Palace in the next few weeks - if not months.

All royal events with large numbers of people have been canceled or postponed, including the annual Easter service, and three Garden Parties due to take place in May.

READ MORE: What to do if news of the coronavirus outbreak is causing your anxiety to spiral (opens in new tab)

The State Visit of the Emperor and Empress of Japan to the UK, due to happen in Spring 2020, has also been postponed.

Another event likely to be cancelled is the Queen’s birthday celebration in June – also known as Trooping of the Colour - and Princess Beatrice's wedding will not take place at Buckingham Palace (opens in new tab).

The full statement read about the new measures read, ‘As a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances, a number of changes are being made to The Queen’s diary.

‘Audiences due to take place this week at Buckingham Palace will go ahead as planned. These include receiving the Prime Minister, the Commanding Officer of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and the Bishop of Hereford. Future Audiences will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, in line with the appropriate advice.

‘Her Majesty will move to Windsor Castle for the Easter period on Thursday 19th March, one week earlier than planned. It is likely The Queen will stay there beyond the Easter period.'

'In consultation with the Medical Household and Government, a number of public events with large numbers of people due to have been attended by The Queen, and other Members of the Royal Family, in the coming months will be cancelled or postponed.

'The annual Maundy Service at St George’s Chapel on 9th April will not go ahead. Three Garden Parties hosted by The Queen, due to be held at Buckingham Palace in May, will now not take place.

'Guests already invited to these Garden Parties will be asked to attend in 2021. Two additional Garden Parties given for the Not Forgotten Association and the National Trust will also not take place. Investitures will be rearranged to later dates.

‘Further announcements on Trooping the Colour, the 75th anniversary of VE Day and the State Visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan will be made in due course, in consultation with Government’.