The Queen is ‘in her bubble’ in her private apartments at Windsor Castle as only 12 members of staff wait on her during lockdown.
Queen Elizabeth, 94, has been isolating with Prince Phillip, 98, since March 19 – despite her husband usually preferring to spend his time at Wood Farm on their Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
And she has had to leave her much-loved horses in their stables to avoid eager photographers capturing her enjoying her favourite pastime while the UK tackles the coronavirus pandemic, The Times reported.
No one outside a very small group is allowed access to Upper Ward, the quadrangle which houses the state and private apartments and the Queen has been passing the time by keeping up to date with the latest news.
Queen Elizabeth (pictured as she addressed the nation on April 5), 94, has been isolating with Prince Phillip, 98, since March 19 – despite her husband usually preferring to spend his time at Wood Farm on their Sandringham estate in Norfolk
She has been spending time at her desk, reading newspapers, catching up with family over video messenger and is an avid viewer of television news, according to someone placed close to her inner circle.
Another pastime likely to keep her amused during lockdown is her budgerigars, which has grown from two free-flying Liberty budgies – gifted to her in the 1930s – to a flight of more than a hundred birds.
Graham Stone, the gardener and keeper of the royal budgerigars, revealed the Queen was fascinated by them and even once saved a bird’s life.
‘I know she likes to see them when she is at Windsor,’ he said. ‘In fact it was her vigilance that saved a bird once.’
The bird had caught its leg in the wire caging, and when the Queen noticed she told the gardener, who called a vet to rescue it.
No one outside a very small group is allowed access to Upper Ward, the quadrangle which houses the state and private apartments (pictured)
Despite being home to 150 people, including staff and the Military Knights of Windsor – retired military officers given a pension and a home in the castle – the Queen is being successfully kept away from others.
She has been spending lockdown with her husband to ensure the pair receive the best possible care should any health issues arise.
And the newspaper’s source revealed the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh get on well, and always enjoy each other’s company – catching up with regular phone calls even while spending time apart.
But she will be missing her head groom Terry Pendry, as she foregoes her once-regular horse rides.
She has had to leave her much-loved horses in their stables to avoid eager photographers capturing her enjoying her favourite pastime while the UK tackles the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured, on her 79th birthday
Meanwhile the Queen’s son, Prince Charles, has been in lockdown at his home on the Balmoral estate in Scotland.
The Prince of Wales has praised the viral videos shared by Britons to help boost the country’s morale amid the coronavirus crisis.
The royal revealed he had entertained himself during his time in lockdown by watching ‘some of the funniest videos’ he had ever seen and praised their creators for lifting the spirits of the nation.
Sharing his thoughts in the latest edition of Country Life Magazine, the future king wrote: ‘Beyond the walls of the hospitals, care homes, doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies, we have also seen a heart-warming burgeoning of remarkable kindness and concern for those in need across the country.
The Queen has been spending lockdown with her husband Prince Philip to ensure the pair receive the best possible care should any health issues arise. Pictured together in 2015
‘Younger people shopping for older folk, some making regular telephone calls to those living alone, church services recorded and emailed to parishioners and, of course, we have seen the very best use of technology – allowing people to keep working, but also to keep in touch through virtual parties, games, singing – and some of the funniest videos I have seen for a long time!’
His son Prince William, Kate and their children George, six, Charlotte, four, and Louis, two, are spending lockdown in Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home.
The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken of ignoring the Easter holidays to keep homeschooling her children while they spend time at home.
Prince William, Kate and their children George, six, Charlotte, four, and Louis, two, are spending lockdown in Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home. Pictured clapping for carers
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been seen walking the streets around their new home in Los Angeles, as they deliver packages for the needy after volunteering for a charity.
The couple were seen linking arms and holding hands as they delivered packages to residents from the back of their $35,000 Cadillac XT5.
Official figures showed another 768 people in UK hospitals have died of coronavirus, taking the death toll to 19,506 yesterday.
On April 6, more than 23.3million people watched the Queen’s ‘inspirational’ and ‘galvanising’ coronavirus TV address to the nation.
Prince Charles, has been in lockdown at his home on the Balmoral estate in Scotland with the Duchess of Cornwall
Her Majesty’s highly personal speech evoked Britain’s stoicism during the Second World War with viewers admitting they had a lump in their throat and tears in their eyes as she echoed Dame Vera Lynn’s words: ‘We will meet again’.
She began: ‘I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time.
‘A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.’
She thanks ‘everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles’.
‘I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times,’ she added.
It comes as the Daily Mail has exclusively revealed an easing of lockdown rules could allow people to socialise with up to ten of their closest family and friends.
Ministers are looking at whether to relax the strict ‘stay at home’ advice to let small groups of households ‘cluster’ together.
It would allow close family members to meet for meals, or enable friends to share childcare. It could also allow couples who do not live together to see each other.
In an idea reminiscent of BT’s ‘Friends and Families’ scheme, people would nominate a small list of those they want to be able to see, drawn from no more than one or two households.
Those involved would then be able to meet for meals and other social activities. But neither group would be allowed to mingle with others outside the ‘cluster’.
Ministers are still grappling with how to enforce the new system and prevent a free-for-all that could allow the coronavirus epidemic to take hold again.
A Whitehall source said: ‘If we can find a way to allow a bit more flexibility without risking transmission of the disease running higher then we will do it.’