Queen Elizabeth is reportedly raring to get back to her royal work and meet people face-to-face again, and the monarch has been making plans that will finally put an end to her isolation at Windsor Castle after she completes her COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, Queen Elizabeth wants to resume her royal duties at the soonest possible time. But in keeping with the government's guidelines, she will wait for the advice from the experts about going out again after she's had her jab.
Nicholl told Vanity Fair that Her Majesty is keen to be visible in public again as the reigning monarch. She is looking forward to less screen time and virtual meetings this year.
For much of 2020, Queen Elizabeth conducted her engagements over the phone or through virtual video. However, she did go out of her protective bubble two times. First, she visited a science military laboratory with Prince William in October. In November, she was present during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony and had a solo outing at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey. She wore a mask during this solemn event.
One of the events of utmost priority for the Queen is the Trooping the Colour in June. Her annual birthday parade, which usually sees thousands of spectators on the street, was canceled last year due to the pandemic.
This year, royal courtiers said that they are beginning to make arrangements even as the uncertainty of the virus spread is still present. The staff said that they also have a contingency plan in case the government won't allow the parade, but the main goal is to assume that this will proceed without any hitches in the middle of the year.
Because the Trooping the Colour is a special celebration in Britain, the Queen has asked Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to come home from California. If so, this could be the first reunion with the royal family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who has not left California since March 2020.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace did not say what type of COVID-19 vaccine was injected into Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip. The royal pair, who are 94 and 99 years old, had their inoculation last Jan. 9 and will get their second dose after a few weeks.
While the Queen did not have a public vaccination, she decided to announce that she had the procedure from the royal household doctor. A spokesperson said that the Queen wanted to stop the speculations thus the announcement.
