Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Other Royals That Could Be Forced To Isolate Due To Coronavirus

A number of senior members of the royal family might be forced to self-isolate amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The U.K. has not banned mass gatherings or closed schools yet unlike other countries. However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed his plans of asking people over 70 years old to stay at home for up to four months, The Guardian reported. If this will be implemented, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles will be affected especially since all three are still active in carrying out royal duties.

“Is the government serious in forcing the over 70s into isolation for four months? That means The Queen, The Prince of Wales & Duchess of Cornwall will have to stay home as will the majority of the @UKHouseofLords _ around 14m off the streets. Who came up with that daft idea?” Queen Elizabeth II’s former spokesman Dickie Arbiter wrote on Twitter.

This has become part of the government’s action plan to protect the older people. If the plan will be implemented, Queen Elizabeth II, 94, Prince Philip, 98, Prince Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, will have to stay at home. This will not affect the Duke of Edinburgh much since he already resigned from his duties and has been living privately since 2017. However, the Queen, Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have upcoming events as part of their calendar of activities.

Jason Leitch, the national clinical director for the Scottish government, which is working with the Westminster government on a U.K.-wide coronavirus strategy, addressed the matter recently. He took to Twitter and made two points to end the confusion.

First, he stressed that there is no plan to ask people over 70 to completely socially isolate as with the symptomatic. Second, they are working on guidance for those over 70 to reduce social contact for their own safety.

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II has returned to Buckingham Palace after spending the weekend at Windsor Castle. The monarch continues her daily routine and it is business as usual for her amid the coronavirus outbreak. However, the palace announced earlier that they rescheduled her engagements.