Queen and Prince Philip to spend Christmas at Windsor Castle

Announcement comes after government reveals that three households can form ‘Christmas bubble’

(Getty Images)

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will spend Christmas at Windsor Castle this year as opposed to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

"Having considered all the appropriate advice, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have decided that this year they will spend Christmas quietly in Windsor," a palace spokesperson said.

The news comes after the UK government announced that up to three households could spend the festive period together to form a “Christmas bubble” from 23 until 27 December.

The palace has not announced if any other households will be joining HRH and Prince Philip at Windsor.

Under the new rules, the Queen would be permitted to form a “Christmas bubble” with two other households.

However, the bubbles must be exclusive, meaning people cannot shift from one group to another.

The restrictions mean that families across the nation are being faced with the dilemma of who to invite round to spend the festive period with.

This will be a particular challenge for Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, who have four children and eight grandchildren together, along with eight great-grandchildren.

Every Christmas Day since 1988, the majority of the royal family have all gone to the Sandringham estate to stay with the monarch and attend mass together at St Mary’s Magdalene church.

Last year, those joining the Queen in Norfolk included the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice and her then-fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

In 2019, the Sussexes missed the Sandringham Christmas, choosing to visit North America with their son Archie over the holiday season.