The Queen is unlikely to return to Buckingham Palace until September, with the monarch predicted to spend the summer in Scotland.
- The Queen's house may be reopening to visitors this month, but Her Majesty is unlikely to return to Buckingham Palace until autumn.
- The Queen left Buckingham Palace at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic to isolate at her royal residence of Windsor Castle.
- In other royal news, Meghan Markle's best friend is also expecting a baby girl - and their daughters are set to share a special bond.
Buckingham Palace may be reopening to visitors this month, but royal fans are unlikely to spot the Queen on their trip to her official residence.
Her Majesty left the royal headquarters in London during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020 to isolate at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip and has not returned since. It is now expected she will spend her summer at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where she typically stays for several weeks during the sunny season.
The Queen's absence may come as a disappointment to the public, but there's still plenty to see behind the gates of the world's most famous palace. From April 17, visitors will be welcome to explore its outdoor grounds without a tour guide and even picnic on its lawns – an activity that was previously forbidden.
We’re reopening! This summer we’re opening #BuckinghamPalace garden for visitors to explore. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to picnic on the Palace lawns. https://t.co/wmn9RJgvvG pic.twitter.com/EbeCJqzfpwApril 7, 2021
The Queen's backyard boasts plenty of gorgeous features, including wildflower meadows, plane trees planted by Queen Victoria, and a 3.5-acre lake buzzing with honeybees. There's also a 156-meter long herbaceous border circling the property that offers the perfect nature trail escape from London's busy streets.
Royal fans will also be able to explore the indoors of Buckingham Palace from May 21. Tours of the State Rooms, used to host official royal engagements, will be run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until June 20. An adult ticket costs £60 and will grant you access to the palace's Ballroom, Green Drawing Room, Throne Room, White Drawing Room, Music Room, Blue Drawing Room, East Gallery, and Bow Room.
-
Stunning brunette hair ideas to inspire you, from warm caramel to deep espressoFrom Penelope Cruz to Zoe Saldana, get inspired by these chic celebrity brunettes...
-
Is The Listeners based on a true story? The real inspiration behind the BBC seriesThe Listeners on BBC One has a very intriguing plot - if you're wondering whether it has basis in a true story, there's actually a very unsettling backstory to the tale.
-
32 fascinating facts about Buckingham Palace that you may not knowIt's one of the most famous properties in the world, and there's plenty of surprising facts about Buckingham Palace
-
32 candid photos that capture the real Prince Philip - from having a belly laugh to meeting celebritiesWe look back at some of Prince Philip's funniest (and most heartwarming) moments, from sharing a joke with other royals to getting very into sporting events
-
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s sleep divorce might sound radical but it’s right on trend todayQueen Elizabeth and Prince Philip reportedly slept separately and this is said to be something the 'upper class' have 'always' done
-
Prince Philip’s royal tradition Princess Anne chose to uphold with her children - but none of her brothers did!Prince Philip’s royal tradition was something his sons chose not to continue with their children but Princess Anne's kids enjoyed it
-
King Charles is offering an exciting opportunity for royal fans - but there's a slight catchAutumn has arrived at Balmoral Castle, with the royal estate's opening hours extended for a limited time...
-
The sweet tradition Prince George, Princess Charlotte and their cousins might continue this yearThe young royals could carry on a tradition that goes back to Prince Philip this summer
-
Queen Elizabeth’s holiday habit that made it ‘hard to find her’ by the end of her Scottish breakQueen Elizabeth's holiday habit was reportedly something that continued into the autumn at Balmoral and she apparently 'loved' it
-
The special family tradition Prince George, Charlotte and Louis could miss out on this summerThere's a special family tradition Prince George, Charlotte and Louis used to enjoy but it might not necessarily be upheld going forwards
