Queen cancels annual Diplomatic Reception at Windsor Castle after Covid diagnosis

The Queen has cancelled an annual event in which hundreds of foreign diplomats were supposed to attend, amid concerns over her Covid diagnosis.

The Queen has cancelled yet another event – this time an annual Diplomatic Reception at Windsor Castle in which hundreds of foreign diplomats were to attend.

The 95-year-old monarch, who last week tested positive to Covid-19, has already cancelled several virtual appointments due to suffering from cold-like symptoms, with the most recent being a large white-tie gathering originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

According to Buckingham Palace, the annual event has been postponed on advice from Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss.

The palace released a statement which read: “The Queen has accepted the Foreign Secretary’s advice that the Diplomatic Reception at Windsor on Wednesday 2nd March should be postponed.”

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled yet another event. Picture: Steve Parsons / POOL / AFP

The Queen had earlier hoped to make the engagement, in which she was scheduled to meet with up to 500 of members of the Diplomatic Corps from 130 different countries.

Considered one of the highlights on the royal calendar, the Diplomatic Reception is usually held at Buckingham Palace but was moved to nearby Windsor Castle this year, with a host of royal family members also on the guest list.

While no detail was given about why the event was cancelled – or a new date – reports suggest the postponement is not health related but is due to “circumstances in the Ukraine”, amid Russia’s invasion of the country.

The reception was set to take place at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. Picture: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posted a rare political tweet airing their support for the under-siege nation today, saying they “stand with Ukraine’s people”.

“In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine’s future,” Prince William and Kate Middleton wrote on their official Twitter account. “Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine’s people as they bravely fight for that future.”

Will and Kate tweeted their support for Ukraine. Picture: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

It comes after the Queen cancelled two virtual engagements on Friday, Buckingham Palace said.

“The two virtual audiences that had previously been scheduled to take place today will now be rescheduled for a later date,” a spokesman said at the time.

She did manage to attend her weekly audience with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday via phone.