Queen Elizabeth cancels Christmas at Sandringham as Covid cases spike

The Queen has been forced to call off her traditional royal Christmas at Sandringham after a surge in Omicron cases.

The Queen has been forced to call off her traditional royal Christmas at Sandringham and will stay at Windsor due to the surge in Omicron cases.

Her Majesty will remain at Windsor Castle for Christmas and New Year and will be visited by family members there.

The monarch, 95, had been keen to celebrate her festive season as traditionally as possible, with all of her family at Sandringham in Norfolk.

The Queen will remain at Windsor Castle this year. Picture: AFP

It follows an earlier decision to cancel the large pre-Christmas family meal the Queen anually hosts for dozens of people at Windsor.

The Queen had been due to host the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, along with 50 or so other members of the royal family, at Windsor Castle on December 21.

There was due to be wine, crackers and a feast – before the monarch set off for Sandringham for the big day itself.

This year is the Queen’s first Christmas without her husband, the late Prince Philip, who died in April 2021.

Last year, the two spent Christmas Day together at Windsor Castle without the rest of the family.

Her Majesty has suffered from illness recently, and had been planning to fly to Sandringham on Wednesday by helicopter rather than taking a train.

Traditionally, the Queen has a Christmas Day wander with the royal family. The occasion will not take place this year. Picture: AFP

The cancellation of Sandringham means there will be no traditional Christmas Day walkabout amid fears it could become an Omicron superspreader.

On Christmas Day, thousands of royal watchers normally gather to greet members of the Firm during their annual December 25 stroll, with some queuing from the early hours of the morning to catch a glimpse of the royal clan.

But aides have reportedly advised the monarch to close the gates to her private grounds to curb coronavirus transmission.

The Queen arrives at King's Lynn station after taking the train from London to begin her Christmas break at Sandringham House on December 20, 2018. Picture: Getty Images

In her annual Christmas broadcast, Her Majesty is expected to herald the indomitable spirit of the British people during the pandemic.

The source added: “The Queen believes we are all in this together and we should all abide by the public health guidelines to keep each other safe.”

— With The Sun.

Originally published as Queen Elizabeth cancels Christmas at Sandringham as Covid cases spike