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Queen postpones all 'large-scale' events at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle for rest of the year

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Queen Elizabeth II talks Captain Sir Thomas Moore and his family after awarding him with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle on July 17, 2020 in Windsor, England. British World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore raised over £32 million for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II after knighting Captain Sir Thomas Moore at Windsor Castle in July.. (Getty Images)

All large scale events have been postponed at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle for the rest of the year.

Buckingham Palace confirmed there will not be any events like investitures for the rest of 2020 on Thursday afternoon, calling it a “sensible precaution”.

A statement on the palace website said: “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 the 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.”

WATCH: Queen knights Captain Sir Tom Moore in special ceremony

The Queen moved to Windsor Castle in March, a week earlier than she would usually go to the Berkshire home for Easter Court, and remained there while lockdown restrictions were in place across the UK.

She and her husband Prince Philip were able to take a shorter holiday in Balmoral, their Scottish home, during the summer, and have been in Sandringham for a number of weeks.

Philip, 99, will stay in Sandringham, where he has lived since retiring in 2017, while the Queen is understood to be coming back to the south of England in the coming weeks.

She will live in Windsor Castle, where she usually spends her weekends, instead of Buckingham Palace.

However she will travel to London for some engagements.

Read more: The Queen has a ring with a secret engraving – and only three people know what it says

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 13: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Queen Elizabeth II attends a military ceremony in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle to mark her Official Birthday on June 13, 2020 in Windsor, England. It was decided that due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic The Queen's Birthday Parade, known as Trooping the Colour, would not go ahead in it's traditional form at Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade, but a small military ceremony in line with the Government's Social Distancing Guidelines would take place at Windsor Castle instead. Soldiers of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards (whose Colour was due to be Trooped this year) will carry out a series of military drills and Royal Salute. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
The Queen watched a smaller version of Trooping the Colour in June. (Getty Images)

The Queen, 94, gave several messages through the lockdown period, including one marking the anniversary of VE Day, and another for Easter.

And she joined her family in making virtual visits, carrying out engagements over zoom.

She carried out a special investiture ceremony in July for Captain Sir Tom Moore, who became a national treasure when he walked lengths of his garden to raise money for NHS Charities together. The ceremony was carried out in Windsor Castle and involved few people to ensure it met guidelines.

She was also able to watch a scaled down version of Trooping the Colour from the Windsor Quadrangle to mark her official birthday.

Read more: Prince Charles wears face covering in public for first time as he and Camilla visit Northern Ireland

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Queen Elizabeth II awards Captain Sir Thomas Moore with the insignia of Knight Bachelor at Windsor Castle on July 17, 2020 in Windsor, England. British World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore raised over £32 million for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The Queen carried out the special ceremony for Captain Sir Tom Moore in July. (Getty Images)

Her children and grandchildren have returned to making in-person engagements in recent weeks, with Charles and Camilla flying over to Northern Ireland on Wednesday for a whistle-stop day of visits.

It was the first time Charles, 71, was seen with a face covering on.

Prince William and Kate have also been carrying out engagements, as have Princess Anne and Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex.

The Queen will continue with much of her daily work even though she cannot carry out as many engagements because of her age.

She receives her red box from the government everyday and continues to maintain links with commonwealth nations.

In September she said she was “delighted” at the news that her granddaughter Eugenie is pregnant with her first child. The baby, due early 2021, will be the Queen’s ninth great-grandchild.