The novel coronavirus has had a colossal and devastating impact on the world since its first reported case in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since then, it has traveled to nearly every country across the globe, with major outbreaks in Italy, Iran, Spain, Germany, the United States and France. England has also been hit particularly hard, leading the British royal family to take quick and appropriate action.
“Many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty,” Queen Elizabeth II said in a statement on March 19. “We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them.”
After praising communities for “coming together to work as one,” the monarch urged people to “find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe” amid the pandemic.
“I am certain we are up to that challenge,” she added. “You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.”
As the fatal disease continues to affect everyday lives, the royals have been taking extra precautions, from making alterations in their schedules and canceling public events to home-schooling their children.
Scroll down to see all of the ways that COVID-19 has impacted the House of Windsor so far.
Buckingham Palace announced major changes to the queen’s diary on March 17 “as a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances,” including the cancellation of five garden parties and the annual Maundy Service. Elizabeth also moved up the start date of her Easter vacation, leaving for Windsor Castle on March 19 instead of the 26th. Additionally, the palace said on March 27 that the 2020 Trooping the Colour parade honoring the monarch’s birthday “will not go ahead in its traditional form” in June.
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The Prince of Wales — who attended an event in London with Prince Albert II nine days before the Monacan royal tested positive for COVID-19 — actively avoided shaking hands with people during the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9. Instead, he placed his hands together and bowed to guests. Then, Clarence House confirmed on March 25 that Charles tested positive for the virus but remains “in good health and has been working from home.” His wife, Duchess Camilla, tested negative.
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Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s school, Thomas’s Battersea, announced on March 18 that it had “decided to move to remote learning,” teaching students with “online learning platforms” instead of in person. Later that day, their father, Prince William, commended “the people of the United Kingdom [for having] a unique ability to pull together” in an Instagram video about the coronavirus.
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Us Weekly confirmed on March 17 that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their son, Archie, are observing the quarantine at their new home in Canada. “They are following the rules put forth by the World Health Organization,” a source told Us. The couple also released a statement about the global crisis on their Instagram account, writing in part, “We are all in this together, and as a global community we can support each other through this process – and build a digital neighbourhood that feels safe for every one of us.”
Harry, for his part, announced on March 19 that his annual Invictus Games would be postponed from May 2020 to sometime in 2021. “This decision was the most sensible — and the safest — option for all of you, for your families and everybody else involved in these games,” he said in a Twitter video at the time.
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Buckingham Palace confirmed on March 18 that the queen’s granddaughter and her fiancé, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were “reviewing their arrangements” for their wedding, which had been scheduled for May 29. “Princess Beatrice and Mr. Mapelli Mozzi are very much looking forward to getting married but are equally aware of the need to avoid undertaking any unnecessary risks in the current circumstances,” the palace said in a statement.
Given the constantly evolving nature of COVID-19, Us Weekly wants our readers to have access to the most accurate resources. For the most up-to-date coronavirus information, guidance, and support, consult the CDC, WHO, and information from local public health officials. If you’re experiencing coronavirus symptoms, call your primary care provider for medical advice.
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Buckingham Palace confirmed on March 20 that the ceremonial Changing of the Guard has been suspended until further notice “in line with government advice to avoid mass gatherings.” The ceremony, which is a major tourist attraction, has also been halted at St. James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace.
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