The Queen is set to enjoy a ‘new normal’ Christmas this year – and may even appear in public for the first time since early autumn.
The 95-year-old monarch has either been resting or undertaking only ‘light’ desk duties following a mystery health scare.
However, doctors gave her the green light to hold an annual party for extended families members in pre-festive season.
It will be held at Windsor Castle this year and not Buckingham Palace as it did in the past. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Queen has been living in Berkshire and she has not left it since.
The Queen is set to enjoy a ‘new normal’ Christmas this year – and may even appear in public for the first time since early autumn
But she will move her court to her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for Christmas, where her nearest and dearest are all set to gather in time for Christmas Eve – as long as government advice does not change.
In light of her general health and age, Her Majesty expects to fly from London to East Anglia via helicopter.
She will also record the annual Christmas message at Windsor before she leaves. It is likely to reflect on her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 in April, as well as the ‘heartening’ show of community strength seen throughout the nation during the Covid pandemic.
The Mail has learned that palace aides have also been exploring the possibility for the monarch’s appearance in public during the next two weeks, to wish Britain a very Merry Christmas.
Buckingham Palace has released videos and photographs of the sovereign undertaking, but all meetings took place behind the palace walls.
It is hoped that she will feel well enough to participate in a brief public event on the castle grounds. Her appearance will be seen as a ‘small shot of joy’ in difficult times.
Pictured: On December 25, 2019, the Prince of Wales was joined by his wife, the Duchess and her children.
‘It won’t be a normal Christmas, but like many families around the country, it will be as normal as it can get,’ a source said.
Last seen by the public, Queen Elizabeth was at Windsor Castle on October 19. The next day, she cancelled a trip to Northern Ireland and was taken to hospital overnight for undisclosed ‘preliminary tests’.
After being ordered to take a break for several weeks, she has been able to undertake a few low-key tasks such as recording a message that will be broadcast at Cop26.
Yesterday, the Prince of Wales also got into the Christmas spirit. He donated snacks with Christmas themes to Afghan refugees as well as Grenfell Tower residents.