Her Majesty will be so bitterly sorry not to see the family: Queen’s decision not to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham this year will be a crushing blow, writes RICHARD KAY
- Queen forced to cancel family Christmas at Sandringham due to Covid concerns
- It marks the second time since 1988 she will not be in Sandringham for festivities
- Christmas celebrations are set to be considerably scaled back as a precaution
Make no mistake the disappointment will be crushing. For all the good intentions, the Queen will be bitterly sorry that she will not be celebrating Christmas this year at Sandringham.
It is not just the fact that, for the second year running, she will be absent from the Norfolk estate which is home to so many of her most treasured Christmas memories, but also that she will be deprived once again of the company of many of her family.
Their absence, particularly of her great-grandchildren, will be felt especially keenly.
After a year which began with the loss of her husband Prince Philip and ended with her having to cancel public engagements after a lengthy bout of ill health, her hopes had been raised by the prospect of a first family gathering at Sandringham since 2019.
The Queen will be disappointed to not host traditional Christmas festivities at Sandringham this year. Pictured: The Queen with family at Christmas Day service in King’s Lynn in 2017
It had promised to be one of the biggest royal get-togethers for years, with US-based Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex and their children the only absentees.
Despite the murmurs from royal aides that the Queen will be visited by family over Christmas – with ‘all appropriate guidelines’ followed – it inevitably means that the normal celebrations will be considerably scaled back.
Palace officials insist the Queen’s decision was a personal one and only taken after ‘careful consideration’, which is thought to have included medical advice.
It also seems likely that next year’s Platinum Jubilee events almost certainly featured in the decision-making process.
‘The Jubilee is a significant – and personal – landmark, and Her Majesty wishes to minimise any risk to events,’ says a courtier.
‘Putting herself, potentially, in harm’s way with a big family gathering is one such possible threat.’ Up to 50 family members were set to join the Queen, who had been expected to travel to Sandringham by helicopter either today or tomorrow.
Queen leaves the St Mary Magdalene’s church after Royal Family’s Christmas service in 2019
Other royal guests were due to arrive by Christmas Eve.
Although not ‘bubbled’ with key staff at Windsor as earlier in the pandemic, special precautions had been taken to keep the Queen safe and Covid-free. They include her personal staff taking daily lateral-flow tests.
I understand that one servant had tested positive in recent days, but this played no part in the Queen’s decision to remain at Windsor.
However, I do understand that aides were concerned about the possibility of the Queen being exposed to infection with such a big group assembling at Sandringham – the same reason why this week’s wider Royal Family lunch was cancelled.
The question now is which members of the family will be with the Queen on Christmas Day.
It seems likely that beleaguered Prince Andrew, who lives close by at the Royal Lodge, may remain at Windsor to be with his mother, as could Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex and their children.
Pictured: The Queen receives the Sultan of Oman and his wife, the first lady of Oman, during an audience at Windsor Castle in one of her most recent official engagements this month
Although the plans are not yet firm, I am told the Queen will ‘not’ be eating her Christmas lunch alone.
It was not immediately clear if some family members will still travel to Sandringham, though it is understood Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge are set to spend the holiday break at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home close to Sandringham House.
Last year, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall spent Christmas Day at Highgrove, his country estate in Gloucestershire.
This year will mark the second time in 33 years that the Queen has spent the festive season away from Sandringham.
Until the 1980s, Christmas was regularly spent at Windsor Castle, but the arrival of her grandchildren meant the royals needed the additional space of the Norfolk mansion.
It is still possible that the Queen will be able to travel to spend some of her winter break up at Sandringham – she usually remains there until February 6, which is the anniversary of her father King George VI’s death. Next year will be an especially poignant date, for it marks the 70th anniversary of her accession.
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