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Prince Philip, 98, stepped back from public life in 2017 and has enjoyed much of his retirement at Wood Farm on Queen Eizabeth II’s Sandringham Estate. While Duke of Edinburgh enjoys the quiet life in Norfolk he was helicoptered down to be with the Queen at Windsor Castle ahead of lockdown in March.

Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, 94, will be happy to be in one another’s company during these unprecedented times and have weathered their fair share on national crises together during their 72-year marriage.

However, there is one special royal reunion both the Duke and the Queen will be very sad to miss this summer.

While the Queen spends most of the year at Buckingham Palace she travels to Aberdeenshire every summer where she spends several months at her Balmoral estate.

Philip and the Queen usually spend two weeks together in a secluded hunting cottage on the estate before welcoming guests throughout the summer.

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The Queen is said to be happiest at Balmoral and it’s where she is able to feel truly free from the royal bubble.

The Royal Family enjoy picnics and barbecues on the lawn of the castle and the Queen can enjoy long dog walks in the surrounding hills.

This year it was understood Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had accepted an invitation to join the Queen and Philip at Balmoral with baby Archie.

However, the coronavirus crisis will have put a stop to the special reunion.

The Queen and Philip have seen little of their great-grandson Archie since his birth and they were understood to be hugely looking forward to the reunion.

While Meghan and Harry have stepped down as senior royals they are still beloved members of the Windsor clan.

Birthday wishes poured in from Royal Family members including Prince Philip and the Queen as Archie marked his first birthday on May 6.

Since Meghan and Harry’s withdrawal from the fold the family have settled in Los Angeles where they have been based since March.

Both the Queen and Philip are in their nineties and no longer travel long distances.

Their age also puts them at high risk of the coronavirus which means they will have to extra cautious about how they return to socialising once lockdown is fully lifted.

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While Meghan and Harry were expected back in the UK this summer it seems unlikely they will make the journey until the pandemic has subsided.

Since settling in the USA Meghan and Harry have kept a relatively low profile as they begin to carve out a life for themselves outside the Royal Family.

The couple intend to launch a new venture called “Archewell” which has been put on ice amid the current crisis.

Meghan and Harry have entered a one-year trial period following their royal step-down in which they will seek to become financially independent.

While they are no longer working royals it is understood they will continue to honour their patronages to UK charities.

On Tuesday Prince Harry issued a heartfelt message to The HALO Trust charity championed by his late mother Princess Diana.

Harry message read: “In these trying times, hope comes from the light of our common humanity.

“Nowhere is that light burning brighter than at The HALO Trust.

“As countries closed their borders, lockdowns came into force and international travel became harder, many might have chosen to suspend operations. Instead, HALO kept open a presence in all 25 of its country operations.”

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