Queen Elizabeth is no longer greeting her guests at Buckingham Palace with a handshake. Recent photos of Her Majesty show that she has been visibly avoiding the diplomatic gesture amid the coronavirus scare, which WHO has officially labeled as a pandemic.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Queen Elizabeth kept her hands to herself when she met with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena, who visited Buckingham with her husband, Dr. Sudath Talpahewa, on Tuesday. The Palace, however, said that the decision to shake hands is a matter of personal preference but the Queen might have gotten some sound advice from her health officials.
A few days earlier, insiders said that Queen Elizabeth was carrying on with her royal duties. She has not canceled her royal engagements and continues to welcome guests at Buckingham Palace.
However, the Queen has been seen wearing gloves during a ceremony where she had to hand out awards. Royal contributor Robert Jobson commented that it's the first time in his 30 years of covering the royal family that he has seen the Queen do such a thing during an investiture.
Some royal experts, however, think that Her Majesty must self-isolate since the COVID-19 virus has a higher risk for the elderly. Queen Elizabeth will turn 94 years old this April.
Meanwhile, People reported that the Queen has reached a new milestone as the fourth longest-reigning monarch in the history of the world. As of Wednesday, March 11, Queen Elizabeth has been the British monarch for 68 years and 34 days. She has surpassed the record of the Mayan ruler Pakal the Great or K'inich Janaab Pakal.
Ahead of the Queen, King Louis XIV of France is the longest-reigning monarch, who was the ruler for 72 years and 110 days. Next to him is Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was king for 70 years and 126 days. On the third is King Johann II of Liechtenstein, who ruled for 70 years and 91 days.
In 2015, Queen Elizabeth became the longest-ruling royal in the history of the British Monarchy. She beat the record of her grandmother three times over, Queen Victoria, who served as the British Queen for 63 years and 218 days.
At 25 years old, then Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne upon the early death of her father, King George VI. On her coronation, she promised Great Britain and its Commonwealth she will do her duty until her last breath. Hence, many believe that she will never abdicate in her old age.
