ROYALSQueen Elizabeth II Reportedly Cancels Christmas Party With Royal Family Over COVID-19 Concern
Queen Elizabeth II has sadly called off her traditional Christmas lunch.
After Her Majesty canceled last year's pre-Christmas bash over COVID-19 restrictions, she had hoped to have her royal family come together this year for the holidays. However, due to the Omicron variant raging on across the U.K., the 95-year-old had to cancel the festivities once again.
Prince Harry and Prince William's grandmother said it was "with regret" the annual get-together would not go ahead as planned, but insisted it was "the right thing to do" amid this uncertain time, The Sun reported.
Though the luncheon normally takes place at Buckingham Palace, the royal event was moved this year to Windsor Castle, according to People, where the matriarch has been staying as the pandemic continues.
The holiday family get-together would have been the first without the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, who died in April at the age of 99.
While the lunch may have been hard for the royal to get through without her husband by her side, an insider insisted the Queen wanted everyone to be in good spirits. "Whatever her private grief is, she wants to get on in as cheerful a way as possible," a close source spilled to the outlet.
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The Christmas party usually sees Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children, in addition to a handful of other royals, as most of the Queen's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are in attendance.
OK! exclusively learned the Duke of Sussex was hoping to make a trip back over the pond for the holidays in light of his grandmother's rapidly declining health. It's unclear whether Harry will pay his royal family a visit in the near future, as traveling has become more difficult because of the ongoing pandemic.
Meanwhile, it seems Harry and wife Meghan Markle have made other plans for the holidays. "They want to nest and make some home-cooked meals," said an insider, noting that the 37-year-old and actress, 40, will also likely entertain a few guests, such as Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, and celeb pals Katharine McPhee and David Foster.
The power couple has planned "some get-togethers with friends and colleagues who've been by their side through thick and thin this year," the source added.
As for the Queen, she will soon be traveling to Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for Christmas to be with her royal family members, per People, unless the U.K. government mandates a change due to the COVID pandemic.
