Queen Elizabeth II decided to cancel her traditional pre-Christmas lunch out of an abundance of caution due to the growing threat of the omicron variant of COVID-19.
The tradition typically saw the 95-year-old monarch celebrate the holidays with extended members of the royal family. However, the lunch was canceled last year due to the pandemic as well.
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“The decision is a precautionary one as it is felt to put too many people’s Christmas arrangements at risk if it went ahead,” a source at Buckingham Palace told Reuters. “While there is regret that it is canceled, there is a belief it is the right thing to do for all.”
The cancellation comes after the queen has had a few health issues over the past few months, including a hospitalization in October and a back sprain, causing her to cancel her appearances at several major events, including Remembrance Sunday.
Her traditional retreat at Sandringham Castle in Norfolk, England, for Christmas is still happening with immediate family. It will be her first Christmas since the death of her husband, Prince Philip, in April. They were married 73 years.
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England recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases Wednesday since the beginning of the pandemic, with 78,610 new cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed England’s first death from omicron on Monday. Officials in England have warned the public to be careful during the holiday season and to limit their exposure.
Because of the rise in omicron cases, new restrictions went into effect Monday. These include workers in the United Kingdom being encouraged to work from home as much as possible, masks being required on public transportation and in shops, and proof of a negative test or the vaccine now being required for large events.
