Buckingham Palace has announced that all investitures and receptions due to be held in the coming months have been cancelled.
These events, which would normally attract heavy footfall, are now unable to go ahead at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle until 2021 at the earliest.
Despite there being hopes of investitures being able to go ahead in a socially distanced manner, palace aides have decided that it is not possible in line with current government guidance.
A palace spokesperson says that recipients due to attend an investiture this year will be contacted directly.
The Queen will return to Windsor Castle in October, and is likely to remain there until Christmas.
Her Majesty will occasionally return to Buckingham Palace to conduct Audiences and small scale engagements in line with government guidance.
Buckingham Palace statement:
“In line with current government guidelines, and as a sensible precaution in the current circumstances, there will be no large scale events held at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle for the rest of this year.
“A variety of possibilities were examined to see if it was possible for Investitures to safely take place in line with the guidelines. Sadly, due to the large numbers of guests and recipients attending, it was not possible to find a way of safely delivering these events in the current circumstances. Recipients will be contacted directly.
“The Queen’s intention remains to return to Windsor Castle in October and to resume the use of Buckingham Palace during an Autumn programme of Audiences and engagements, in line with all relevant guidance and advice.”
