Queen suffers flight scare on return to Windsor as 'electrical storm' strikes plane

The Queen's pilot was forced to delay landing her private jet on Tuesday because of unsafe weather conditions, according to reports

Queen's suffers flight scare as 'electrical storm' strikes plane
(Image credit: Getty)

The Queen had a rocky flight back to Windsor Castle last night after her private plane was caught in an 'electrical storm', according to reports. 


The Queen has safely arrived at Windsor Castle ahead of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, after enduring severe turbulence on her flight back from Balmoral. 

Her Majesty's pilot was forced to delay landing her 13-seater plane at RAF Northolt on Tuesday afternoon due to an 'electrical storm, rain and hail', according to the Sun. It's understood that the private jet circled in the air before touching down 15 minutes later at its intended destination. 

Buckingham Palace also confirmed the monarch's disrupted travel plans, releasing the following statement: 

"The Queen's flight was delayed due to a lightning storm, all the correct procedures were followed and there were no safety concerns." Later that day, the beloved royal matriarch was photographed being driven into the Windsor Castle in her Range Rover with one of the Queen's Corgis in the backseat. 

Her Majesty flew to Scotland on Thursday for a short private break at her Aberdeenshire estate, her Highlands country retreat, to prepare herself for the busy Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend. 

Queen

(Image credit: ANDREW MATTHEWS / Contributor / Getty Images)

Celebrations are set to take over the UK in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Queen's reign, with several high-profile events planned in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland from Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5. 

Buckingham Palace has said that the Queen's attendance at the festivities will be confirmed closer to the date, in light of the sovereign's ongoing mobility issues. 

With Her Majesty's involvement in the Jubilee still unclear, her younger relatives are expected to be on their A-game over the next few days. 

The historic event will see many senior royals leave London to go on tour, with Prince William and Kate Middleton traveling to Cardiff and Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex flying to Northern Ireland on Saturday, June 4. Meanwhile, Princess Anne will head northwards to Scotland, where she will visit the Edinburgh Zoo and participate in a ceremony onboard the flight deck of HMS Albion. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will also attend, but the level of their involvement as non-working royals is expected to be far lower than their British relatives. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.