Queen Elizabeth II will be moving to Windsor Castle on Thursday, March 19, due to the coronavirus outbreak in the U.K. Her Majesty will be taking her Easter break earlier than planned and may stay there beyond the Easter period. As this place is said to be one of her most favorite residents, learn why this Berkshire palace holds an exceptional place in her heart.
Windsor Castle holds a lot of childhood memories for Her Majesty, per Hello! Magazine. During World War II, instead of evacuating, she stayed at the palace with her sister, Princess Margaret. They grew up in this castle, from their teenage years until they became young women.
Royal weddings also happened here. From Prince Edward's marriage to Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in 1999 to Prince Harry and Prince Eugenie's nuptials with their respective partners, Meghan Markle and Jack Brooksbank in 2018. It became an iconic place to hold the most memorable weddings of the royal family members.
Different royal engagements also took place at Windsor Castle. The Order of the Garter ceremony is held here every year. Royal family members, who are named as Knights and Ladies of the Garter, join the procession from the Windsor state apartments to the service at St George's Chapel.
It also hosts state visits, like when Ireland President Michael D. Higgins visited in 2014, and Queen Elizabeth invited US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in 2018. Aside from that, this is where the Royal Windsor Horse Show happens.
It is one of Queen Elizabeth's most favorite events and occurs every year in Home Park in the private grounds of the Windsor Castle. However, it remains to be seen if this event will continue this year amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Queen Elizabeth is now taking precautions in line with Government's advice about the coronavirus outbreak. WWD reported that a press release was out to state that Her Royal Highness and the rest of the royal family needed to cancel large royal gatherings in the next few months.
This includes the annual Maundy Service at St George's Chapel on April 9 and Queen Elizabeth's three garden parties at Buckingham Palace in May. However, the leader of the Commonwealth still has to attend a few private meetings with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Commanding Officer, and the Bishop of Hereford this week.
This decision comes after Buckingham Palace earlier announced that Queen Elizabeth would cancel her upcoming travel engagements in Cheshire and Camden in England scheduled later this month. In a statement, the palace said it was the "sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances."
