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The Queen must decide whether to respect royal tradition and spend a few months at Balmoral Castle this year or to remain in Windsor throughout the summer, the Daily Express royal correspondent Richard Palmer has said. A source claimed last week preparations were well underway for the monarch to move her residence to Balmoral Castle in August. 

However, Mr Palmer said nothing was set in stone and the monarch was still hearing from her aides before making this important decision that would see her leave Windsor Castle for the first time since mid-March.

Mr Palmer wrote on Twitter: “The Queen, who has been lockdowned at Windsor since March 19, will remain there while tourists return to the castle.

“Aides say it’s not unusual for tourists to be visiting the state apartments while she is across the castle quadrangle in her private apartments.

“It’s still not been decided whether the Queen will go to Balmoral this summer. 

“She and her advisors will have to decide whether it is ‘appropriate’ for her to move the court up to Royal Deeside and what she would do there if entertaining family and official guests was difficult.

“Whatever happens, the summer opening of Buckingham Palace to tourists, the normal trigger for the Queen to head up to Scotland, is cancelled this year.”

The Royal Collection Trust (RTC) announced yesterday Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse are to reopen to the public on July 23 under strict safety regulations. 

Visitors will have to pre-book a time slot online ahead of their visit and on the venues they will have to continue social distancing, follow one-way routes and pay only by card.

Buckingham Palace is to remain close, but tourists will be able to visit its Royal Mews as well as The Queen’s Galleries in London and Edinburgh and the trust’s shops.

This comes after the Daily Telegraph claimed the monarch isn’t expected to return to London in the foreseeable future. 

The forced closure of the palaces to tourists have had a devastating impact on the Royal Household.

In May, the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer of the Royal Household, warned his staff of the difficult time ahead in a leaked email seen by The Sun.

Emergency measures, the email warned, had to be put in place to stop the haemorrhage of cash, including wage freezes and any halt to non-essential projects.

The email read: “The crisis has already tested our resilience, adaptability and preparedness in many ways and at all levels across the organisation.  

“It has also had a significant impact on the activities of the whole Royal Household.

“Although the UK appears to be over the peak of infections, it remains unclear when measures such as social distancing will come to an end.

“We must, therefore, assume it could still be many weeks, if not months before we are able to return to business as usual.

“There are undoubtedly very difficult times ahead and we realise many of you will be concerned. 

“The Royal Household, like most organisations, is not immune to the impact of the pandemic on our financial position.

“Many projects have been halted and all but essential expenditure has been suspended.

“A recruitment freeze has been implemented and no new posts will be appointed unless a very clear business case exists.

“This year’s annual pay review has also been paused.”    

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