Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are cutting their summer stay at Balmoral, Scotland and moving to her winter home at Sandringham, Norfolk weeks earlier than planned, the palace has confirmed.
Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were supposed to be in Scotland until early October but they have unexpectedly changed their schedule to travel to her Norfolk estate. Following the Sandringham trip, Queen Elizabeth will return to her Windsor estate by October. However, the monarch is also expected to visit her official residence, Buckingham Palace, for selected royal engagements this fall.
The palace announced that the Queen's schedule for the final months of the year are still subject to finalization and will be continuously reviewed in accordance with relevant guidance and advice. The arrangements for the duke, on the other hand, are still under discussion as Prince Philip might prefer to stay at Sandringham when his wife moves back to Windsor and restarts her royal duties.
The royal family typically stays at Sandringham for the Christmas holidays. The Queen usually stays in this Norfolk home until the first week of February to mark the death anniversary of her father, King George VI.
Near the Queen's Sandringham estate is the duke's Wood Farm - which is also close to Windsor Castle. It's where Prince Philip has been spending most of his time since his retirement in 2017.
Queen Elizabeth and Philip moved to Balmoral Aug. 4 after nearly five months of isolation at Windsor. At Balmoral, Her Majesty was finally able to see some members of the royal family in person.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and Sophie, and their children, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, were the first to visit Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank also made their annual trip to Balmoral to spend a socially distant summer with the monarch - as did Eugenie's dad, Prince Andrew.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, visited Balmoral with children George, Charlotte and Louis. It is understood that Princess Anne was also with the Cambridges with her eldest son, Peter Phillips and they went grouse shooting.
Sources said the royal family was eager to get together like any regular family who haven't seen each other during the months of isolation because of the pandemic. However, they were still under strict protocols to follow social distancing rules and kept their gatherings outdoors. They also didn't stay in the same castle as Queen Elizabeth and Philip.
