The Queen has cancelled her Christmas family get together

TerriBull

I think she is very wise to do that. I'm going to have her speech on at 3pm on Christmas Day, it does occur that there might not be many more of them.

You'd probably be able to get a box set of all 69 of them on Netflix...

(Sorry, I'll slink away now...)

As others have said, definitely Sandringham at Christmas. It’s where her father died, and she stays on there after Christmas up to the anniversary of his death and her accession, February 6th I think.

She stayed at Windsor last year with Philip, because of Covid, if I remember correctly.

I think she is very wise to do that. I'm going to have her speech on at 3pm on Christmas Day, it does occur that there might not be many more of them.

That first Christmas without husband/ partner is damned awful at the best of times but with this virus hanging around as well it's made matters worse for everyone including the Queen.

Yes...very sensible. She may also not want to be surrounded by people after having been bereaved. Not everyone does.

Leading by example. Good for her.

nadateturbe

www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a38164281/queen-elizabeth-flies-to-sandringham-helicopter-christmas-2021/

Always helpful to set a good example.

That article was written on 4th November when the Queen returned to work and visited Sandringham after she was in hospital.

The Queen usually travels to Sandringham by train, but in the middle of a pandemic if flying by helicopter is safer for her, I cannot see the problem.

www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a38164281/queen-elizabeth-flies-to-sandringham-helicopter-christmas-2021/

Always helpful to set a good example.

Sparklefizz

She does go to Balmoral for Christmas, and will apparently be helicoptered up there later next week.

Nope
The Royal Family traditionally spends Christmas and New Year at Sandringham, the Queen's country estate in Norfolk. During the sixties, when Her Majesty's children were small, many Christmases were celebrated at Windsor Castle, where The Royal Family spends Easter. But since 1988, when the castle was being rewired, Royal Christmases returned to Sandringham.
Every year The Queen spends the summer break at Balmoral, where she is joined by other members of The Royal Family. Between April and July every year Balmoral is open to the public.

Sandringham, always, Balmoral is for the summer break.

Goodness, we have a controversy here!

Sandringham or Balmoral? Or both?

A Queen has also confirmed she will instruct her chef never to buy foie gras. She will also stop using her helicopter for personal pleasures. Not so far,

I think the poor soul looks more frail in recent pics. Probably the shock of losing her " strength and stay ", poor woman.

henetha

Me too. She will be so sad.

Probably very relieved in many ways. I imagine she will still spend Christmas with some of her children and grand-great-gran children.

The Queen and immediate family always go to Sandringham at Christmas, they walk to the local church.

I visited both earlier on this year, and this is what the guide told us. It is also well documented.

she goes to Sandringham for Christmas each year
not Balmoral...Balmoral is where she goes in Ausgust each year.

She does go to Balmoral for Christmas, and will apparently be helicoptered up there later next week.

Sandringham for Christmas. Balmoral for the summer break.

nadateturbe

I thought the RF all went to Balmoral for Christmas together.

I'm a bit puzzled by that, too, because that's what I thought...

True leadership. Wonder how many people Johnson will have round at Christmas given that I understand he had someone staying with them last year that wasn’t in his bubble…

The first Christmas without your loved one is always tough. Perhaps she just couldn’t face another barrage of criticism after losing Philip, Charles having COVID and of course all the Markle debacle along with the restrictions etc.

Leading from the front as ever. Reliably sensible. I hope she'll still be able to have the close family round at Christmas.

Me too. She will be so sad.

Usually 50 altogether. I feel so sorry for HM. She’s been unwell and will be grieving for her husband. Christmas will be very sad for her this year.

Very very wise.