The Queen was beaming as she greeted foreign ambassadors in Buckingham Palace Windsor Castle for her second virtual diplomatic audience today.
Following tradition, two ambassadors greeted the monarch, 94, with sweeping bows before presenting their credentials to the monarch via a video link, staged in line with medical advice.
The royal opted to wear a vibrant blue blouse for the occasion and added a pop of colour by sweeping a bright red lipstick across her lips.
Her Majesty is currently staying with Prince Philip, 99, at the Berkshire residence, with the video audiences likely to become the norm for a period amid the Covid-19 crisis
The Queen, 94, was beaming as she greeted foreign ambassadors in Buckingham Palace Windsor Castle for her second virtual diplomatic audience today
The monarch was greeted by His Excellency the Ambassador of Germany Andreas Michaelis and his wife Heike Michaelis from Buckingham Palace
The royal appeared on a video screen as she met with the foreign ambassadors from Windsor (pictured, His Excellency the High Commissioner for Brunei Darussalam First Admiral Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Norazmi bin Pengiran Haji Muhammad and his wife, Pg Datin Noralam binti Pg Hj Kahar)
Earlier this month, a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: ‘Diplomatic audiences are a long standing and traditional part of the monarch’s role and the hope has always been to restart them as soon as possible.
‘A variety of options were considered in line with current guidelines to reintroduce diplomatic audiences while retaining some of the long-established ceremonial elements, such as the use of Buckingham Palace.’
She added: ‘At this time, in line with medical advice, Her Majesty will conduct diplomatic audiences virtually from Windsor Castle.’
The Queen held two separate diplomatic audiences today with Germany Andreas Michaelis and his wife Heike Michaelis, as well as the High Commissioner for Brunei Darussalam First Admiral Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Norazmi bin Pengiran Haji Muhammad and his wife, Pg Datin Noralam binti Pg Hj Kahar,
The Queen appeared in high spirits as she spoke with the foreign ambassadors via video link earlier today
The new arrangements, staged in line with medical advice, are likely to be the norm for a period
The meetings marked the second week running diplomats attending Buckingham Palace presented their credentials to the monarch by video link
The diplomats were in the Equerry’s Room at Buckingham Palace while the Queen was sitting in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle
The diplomats were in the Equerry’s Room at Buckingham Palace while the Queen was sitting in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle.
Diplomatic audiences have remained almost unchanged since the Victorian era with ambassadors still collected from their embassy or residence in a State landau, a ceremonial horse-drawn carriage, and taken to Buckingham Palace to present their credentials the Queen.
Tradition was followed for today’s unique event with the top diplomats enjoying a horse-drawn ride through the streets of London to the monarch’s official residence.
It marks the second virtual diplomatic audience for the Queen, who hosted her first event online last week.
Meanwhile the Queen also held an audience via video link earlier this summer with Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, upon his appointment in July.
The head of state’s last in person audience in person at Buckingham Palace was on March 18, with Commodore Stephen Moorhouse, the outgoing commanding officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, and his successor Captain Angus Essenhigh.
It comes after it was announced that the Queen and Prince Philip will spend Christmas ‘quietly’ at Windsor Castle.
The couple traditionally spend the festive season with close family at Sandringham, in Norfolk. But this year they will forgo the festivities and remain at Windsor Castle, where they have been isolating with a ‘bubble’ of staff since October.
The royal appeared in good spirits as she chatted with the foreign ambassadors by video link in Windsor
As is traditional, the ambassadors bowed as they presented their credentials to the monarch in Buckingham Palace today
It is understood the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will not take advantage of the relaxed Covid restrictions to form a Christmas bubble with other households.
It means the couple face spending Christmas Day without any of their four children for the first time since 1949, when the then Princess Elizabeth left a one-year-old Charles in the UK so she could be with Prince Philip in Malta.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will spend Christmas at Highgrove, in Gloucestershire, although they expect to see the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor at some point over the festive season.
Camilla will also spend time with her family. In Tier 2 regions, like Windsor, up to six people from different households are able to mix outdoors.
This means the Queen and Prince Philip could meet with family members for horse riding or walks in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The Queen cancels Christmas gift-giving ceremony for royal staff for the first time in her reign due to Covid – as she prepares for a ‘quiet’ yuletide at Windsor with Prince Philip
The Queen has been forced to cancel her annual Christmas gift-giving ceremony for the first time in her reign to Covid restrictions.
Every year the Monarch, 94, order presents for every single member of the royal household, which are usually given to them along with a Christmas pudding in the Advent period.
Past favourites include a special trinket box or a photo frame engraved with her personal cypher and champagne flutes.
The Queen personally hands over her token of appreciation to a small selection of staff by the Christmas trees at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle as a special thank you for their loyal service, before she de-camps to Sandringham until February.
However, this year the intimate ceremonies have been cancelled due to social distancing regulations and the need for the 94-year-old monarch to stay in a strict operational bubble.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who will be spending Christmas ‘quietly’ at Windsor Castle this year, will not personally hand over gifts to royal staff, as has been the tradition throughout the 94-year-old Monarch’s reign
Known to spend thousands of pounds on her staff at Christmas, with favourites including a Christmas pudding, champagne flutes or engraved trinket boxes, the Queen will still gift presents but, due to the pandemic, won’t hand them over personally
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will spend Christmas ‘quietly’ at Windsor Castle.
Royal employees have also been informed, unsurprisingly, that the Palace’s main official Christmas party, as well as all smaller staff events, have been cancelled.
The annual lunch the monarch holds on the Wednesday before Christmas for her own extended family – which normally sees more than 25 royals and their children sit down to a full turkey lunch – has also, inevitably, fallen by the wayside, sources confirmed.
‘It’s a great shame but inevitable and the right thing to do,’ a source said.
‘The staff will still receive a gift from the Queen as usual but there will be no special moment with Her Majesty. It’s as much a disappointment for her as it will be for them, as it’s a hugely special time of the year.
‘And like offices around the country there will be no Christmas parties at Buckingham Palace or any of the royal residences this year. It’s the way it has to be.’