SENIOR royals including Kate Middleton and Prince William have reportedly ditched all their plans ahead of Christmas so they can spend time with the Queen as Omicron cases surge.
Daily Covid infections hit a pandemic high yesterday with 88,376 new cases reported after Chris Witty urged Brits to “prioritise social interactions that really matter to them” or risk catching the virus.
Kate and Wills, Prince Charles and Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and wife Sophie have now decided to cancel their festive plans to ensure they can be with the Queen on Christmas Day, reports the Mirror.
It’s understood they’ve agreed to reduce all but essential contacts ahead of the big day.
Their decision comes after the Queen decided to pull the plug on her annual pre-Christmas family lunch because of the rapid spread of Omicron.
The decision to axe the traditional meal for up to 50 at Windsor Castle was made in a bid to keep the family apart — in the hope that a big festive bash can go ahead at Sandringham.
As she faces her first Christmas without Prince Philip, senior aides say her plans “continue to be under review” and a decision is expected next week.
But some insiders believe the Queen will end up staying at Windsor for the festive season.
Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former press secretary, said: “The luncheon is very important to the Queen because it is the one time of the year when the whole extended family gets together.
“Having cancelled this lunch I’d be very surprised if she decamped and took her family to Sandringham. Windsor has been a secure bubble since the start of the pandemic.
Read our Royal Family live blog for the latest updates
“The Queen leads by example and expects the rest of the family to follow suit. In this very infectious time it is better to be safe than sorry.”
Guests were set to travel from across the country to Windsor next Tuesday.
Millions of families across the country are also now reviewing their Christmas plans after Professor Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer urged the nation: “Don’t mix with people you don’t have to.”
And cases of Covid-19 reached their highest daily total for a second day in a row yesterday.
A total of 88,376 new infections were reported on Thursday – a 12.4 per cent increase from Wednesday’s rate of 78,610.
In order to curb infections and save Christmas, Brits have been urged to come forward and get their booster jabs either by booking on the NHS portal or by going to a walk-in centres.
Trending In The News is also urging readers to sign up to the Jabs Army campaign so that the rollout goes smoothly and so that Britain can get boosted.
In order to curb infections and save Christmas, Brits have been urged to come forward and get their booster jabs either by booking on the NHS portal or by going to a walk-in centres.
Trending In The News is also urging readers to sign up to the Jabs Army campaign so that the rollout goes smoothly and so that Britain can get boosted.
