Queen Elizabeth II is not one to back down easily, but rationality might have gotten the best of her this time. The 95-year-old monarch was forging ahead with a planned Christmas lunch, but it seems there was a change of plan.
The current health crisis in England linked to the coronavirus pandemic forced her to take a sad decision.
Fifty people had been invited to Windsor Castle for next week amid a rise in Omicron cases. The gathering was canceled in 2020, and some were calling on Her Majesty to do the same again this year.
The Queen reminded people she is a tough cookie, and she ignored these calls for a time. However, according to the latest reports, the Christmas lunch has been canceled.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who were reportedly invited to celebrate with the family, have turned the offer.
The power couple will remain in California with their two children — Archie Harrison and Lilibet Diana Windsor-Mountbatten.
According to reports, the monarch was looking forward to meeting her great-granddaughter for the first time. However, her parents chose another route, supposedly not wanting to cause a frenzy.
The Queen was supposed to head to Sandringham in Norfolk after the family lunch. This is where Queen Elizabeth was set to spend Christmas Day.
Because of fears linked to the Omicron variant, all of those plans have been canceled. This means the Queen will not be with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William.
So, the Queen will not spend the holidays with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren for the special time of the year.
However, all is not bleak. Queen Elizabeth was spotted in London last week, and it was the first time she left Windsor since October.
She was seen strolling without a walking stick, which means that her health is improving. A person, who saw the Queen in London, told The Sun: “It was great she was out and about and on her feet and looking back to her best. Hopefully, being on her feet in London is a sign that we will see her back on engagements soon.”
At the moment, the monarch is expected to spend Christmas at Windsor Castle, and the Cambridges are still likely to go to Norfolk with their three children.
Because of the COVID-19 situation, all plans related to traveling are not final, and a decision is expected on the issue next week.
An insider told the Daily Mail: “All plans were under consideration.” A source also stated: “Her Majesty always leads by example, regardless of her personal preferences.”
It seems that despite official cancelation, the Queen is still trying to find a way to keep her favorite traditions intact.
The year 2020 was complicated for the British Monarchy. The Queen lost her husband, Prince Philip, and the bombshell interview of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Oprah Winfrey, painted the family in a negative light.
The holiday season was going to mark the beginning of a new era. Fans are waiting to see if 2022 will change some of the dynamics.
Queen Elizabeth is set to celebrate her jubilee, and her entire family is expected to be there. Will this be a scene for reconciliation?
