Buckingham Palace announced Thursday that all large-scale events at Queen Elizabeth's official residence and at Windsor Castle will no longer take place for the rest of 2020.
In an official statement, Palace sources said that decision to cancel events was a "sensible precaution" in protecting Queen Elizabeth in light of the COVID-19 situation in the country. Thus, after careful consideration, the investitures this fall will have to be postponed until 2021.
According to the Palace, royal senior staff members examined a "variety of possibilities" to retain these large-scale events. However, the guidelines set by the government of U.K. made it impossible to facilitate social distancing because of the number of people at these affairs.
Recipients of the investitures will be notified personally of the changes. They can opt to receive their honors through a representative of Queen Elizabeth in their local community or they may wait for the re-staging in 2021.
Palace sources also said that Queen Elizabeth will remain at her home in Windsor but she will still go to Buckingham Palace for some of her autumn programs. Chris Ship of ITV said that it's now clear there will be small royal events at the Palace with the Queen's presence.
The monarch and Prince Philip are currently at the duke's Wood Farm estate in Norfolk but they will be moving back to Windsor in a few days. The royal couple shortened their summer stay in Balmoral, Scotland last September.
Meanwhile, the Queen held no investitures since the U.K. went into a lockdown in March. However, Her Majesty agreed to a special open-air knighthood ceremony in July for Captain Sir Thomas Moore, the centenarian who raised millions to help the NHS frontliners in this pandemic.
The monarch has been under a protective bubble since the pandemic, which requires her staff to isolate for two weeks before they enter her Palaces. The staff members also cannot leave to see family members until their next three-week shift.
This royal bubble is supposed to be maintained for the rest of the year, which means some of the members of the royal household will not be able to spend the holidays with their family.
According to reports, at least 20 workers are refusing to follow the order to isolate, sparking the Queen's anger. Christmas time for the royal family is spent at Sandringham but it might also be scaled down to ensure social distancing.
