The Queen is self-isolating at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip. The monarch was last seen in public on March 19, when she was driven through Buckingham Palace’s gates with her dorgi sitting on her lap to her home in Berkshire.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip Britain, the Queen isn’t expected to step out of her castle anytime soon for a face-to-face meeting or public engagement.
But despite being absent from the public eye, the Queen remains a key figure in Britain, with her “experience and sagacity” needed and appreciated more than ever, according to a royal commentator.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “She has always been a symbol of continuity but during this unprecedented crisis her experience and sagacity are valued all the more.”
The Queen showed just how vital and central her figure is twice since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
In April, she delivered a poignant message to the country and the Commonwealth, urging Britons to be strong in the midst of the crisis and praising frontline workers for their immense effort.
Earlier this month, the Queen talked to the country again to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
While recalling her own memories of the day and paying tribute to veterans and soldiers who died during World War 2, the Queen also rallied spirits telling the country its streets aren’t empty because of the nationwide lockdown but full of love.
Mr Fitzwilliam’s analysis came as a royal source claimed the Queen is set to remain at Windsor Castle for the time being rather than travelling back to Buckingham Palace at the end of the Easter break for the foreseeable future.
A source told The Times: “The Queen won’t do anything which goes against the advice of people in her [age] category and she’s going to take all the appropriate advice.
“There are discussions about what we could and couldn’t do come October,” the source said.
“We haven’t cancelled a load of engagements, but nothing is going into Her Majesty’s diary at the moment.
“If there is advice in the coming months that it’s fine for her to come back to London, she may do that, but until that time, she’d want to be seen to be being responsible in her actions for the nation.”
Mr Fitzwilliams believe the Queen may remain at Windsor Castle until a vaccine is found.
He said: “The Queen at 94 is obviously ‘high risk’ from coronavirus and is in self-isolation at Windsor.
“She is, however, a wonderful example of how those of advanced age can still be active as is Prince Philip, who is also with her at Windsor.
“Although she undertook nearly 300 engagements last year, these are likely to be considerably reduced until a vaccine is found and as Government guidelines allow.”
While she continues to act as head of state by receiving the Government’s red boxes and holding phone meetings once a week with the Prime Minister, in the future the monarch will likely need to deputise more to her heir apparent.
The royal expert added: “The Prince of Wales has recovered from coronavirus after displaying only slight symptoms, so it is likely he may, depending on events, be deputising for the Queen on more occasions in future.”