The coronavirus pandemic has been described as the “biggest crisis” the Queen has ever faced during her record-long reign by Dickie Arbiter, royal commentator and former press secretary of Her Majesty. Mr Arbiter told Hello! magazine: “This is the biggest crisis of the Queen’s reign and the biggest international crisis since the Second World War.” 

The monarch, who ascended to the throne in February 1952 following the death of her father King George VI, can’t provide the country with medical expertise in regards to the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Arbiter pointed out.

He continued: “The nation has always seen her as a reassuring presence and, even though she doesn’t have the answers, she remains stoic and calm in times like this.

“As Head of State, life has to go on as best as it can for Her Majesty, but she is taking precautions and sensibly left for her Easter break at Windsor Castle a week earlier than usual.

“The Queen isn’t in a position to advice us what to do because she is not an expert.” 

Yet, Mr Arbiter added, the Queen is still playing a major role during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she is leading by example by following by the book the Government’s advice.

The former press secretary continued: “Like everyone else, she will be concerned because we are dealing with an unknown.

“But she is listening to and heeding the expert advice and, as ever, taking the lead – and hoping her people will follow.”

The monarch, just like other members of the Royal Family, drastically changed her schedule.

Firstly, she cancelled her public engagements for the foreseeable future, including a visit to Cheshire and another to the London Borough of Camden.

The monarch also moved away from London, which is so far the city worst hit by the pandemic, and is self isolating with only a handful of members of her staff and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle.

Similarly, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who are both over 70 and considered more vulnerable to suffering severe outcomes of the coronavirus, are believed to have transferred their residence to Scotland for the time being.

However, both the Queen and the Prince of Wales continue to work from home, with the monarch receiving the Government’s red box on a daily basis and her heir apparent continuing to take care of his patronages and workers at the Duchy of Cornwall.

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The Queen also issued a statement last week, urging people to temporarily change their normal routine, as she has done, to protect the most vulnerable.

Her Majesty said: “We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them.

“At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.”    

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