Queen Elizabeth may be old and vulnerable to the coronavirus but she is still keeping her legacy alive as she leads Britain by example. Royal expert Dick Arbiter said that while Her Majesty can't do much to avert the biggest crisis of her reign, she remains the most reassuring presence for a nation grappling to flatten the curve and save as many loves a possible.
Arbiter said in an interview that the nation is looking up to Queen Elizabeth as a stoic and calm presence during a challenging time like this. As the monarch and Head of State, the Queen is taking sensible advice to move to Windsor Castle and remain isolated from the crowd.
The royal expert said that the Queen is listening to the government and the people. She hopes that many will follow in her example to stay firmly at home to help slow down the spread of the virus.
On March 23, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced to the British people that the police will strictly enforce the order to stay at home and limit their movements. Only those allowed outside will be people buying food and medication but non-essential establishments have also been ordered closed, along with schools, libraries and playgrounds.
Jonson said in a statement that people will be discouraged from meeting with friends or family members in separate homes. The rule breakers will be accosted by the police and sanctioned with fines. However, those who need to go to work will be allowed to be out provided that they observe social distancing.
The decision comes as the U.K. has more than 8,000 positive cases and 422 COVID-19 deaths as of March 25. According to reports, the U.K. has similar patterns as Italy and it will get worse unless a lockdown is enforced.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth is set to make an unscheduled address to the nation in the coming days. According to People, the date has not yet been set but she has coordinated with government officials via Skype and FaceTime about the public health situation.
The report also stated that Queen Elizabeth is in good health while in isolation at Windsor with Prince Philip. She still receives official documents and has her regular meetings with the prime minister via video conferencing or through phone.
As of last weekend, Her Majesty canceled her royal engagements for the next few weeks. She will be staying at Windsor well after the Easter holiday as London has more infected victims.
