Queen makes ‘unusual’ political statement on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

The Queen has made a rare political statement by joining the 'cultural boycott' of Russia, after withdrawing her recent donation to a Moscow museum. 

• The Queen has made a rare political statement after refusing to lend weapons to Russia for a history exhibition in its capital city. 
• Her Majesty had reportedly agreed to send three antique swords to the Kremlin Museums in Moscow but halted the process ahead of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 
• In other royal news, Zara Tindall wows in statement Karen Millen cape as she snuggles up to Mike at Cheltenham Festival.
  

The Queen may have a reputation for upholding a neutral stance on all things political—but when it comes to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it looks she's firmly picked a side. 

Her Majesty has reportedly denied permission for six Royal Trust Collection artifacts to be displayed at a Moscow museum, in what appears to be support for the 'cultural boycott' of President Putin's regime following his military attack on the Eastern European country last month. 

The news comes shortly after it was revealed that a Russian billionaire is unable to pay his rent to the Queen due to the UK's sanctions on the transcontinental nation. 

It's now understood that the 95-year-old monarch has refused to loan six pieces of 17th-century armor to the Kremlin Museums for a March exhibition, after initially agreeing to make the donation. The weapons, which include a dueling gauntlet, cavalry helmet, and a breastplate from English Civil Wars, are reportedly now on their way back to Britain. 

The move has left royal fans taken aback, with many noting that such a political statement is uncharacteristic of the Queen. 

"Very unusual for the UK royal family to get involved in political issues in any way, so quite surprised to read this!" one person wrote on Twitter. 

The Royal Armouries confirmed that it had "recalled the loan items" because of the "escalation of the situation in Ukraine", adding that they are following the same process that "other major European collections have gone through regarding the items from their collections that are also on loan as part of this exhibition." 

The Duel: from Trial by Combat to a Noble Crime had been due to start on 4 March in the Kremlin Museums but has been delayed indefinitely due to the mass withdrawal of exhibitions from its ten European contributors. 

The state run museum's request for the Queen to send engraved Henry VIII armor was also denied, because it required a Royal Armouries staff accompaniment to travel - a journey that would not have been possible in the current circumstances.