Queen is ‘furious’ after Sandringham staff ‘refuse to work over Christmas in her Covid bubble’ – meaning she could be forced to spend it at Windsor Castle for first time in 33 years
- Backroom staff at Sandringham were asked to support Queen over Christmas
- But workers rebelled against plans to isolate them from loved ones for a month
- Insiders say Queen is ‘furious’ she could be forced to spend holidays at Windsor for first time in 33 years
The Queen is said to be ‘furious’ after Royal Household staff revolted against a plan for them to stay in a Covid bubble at Sandringham over Christmas.
The 20 or so employees had been asked to remain on the monarch’s Norfolk estate without their families to support her, Prince Philip and other members of the Royal Family during the festive period.
But the group are believed to have mutinied because they are unwilling to isolate from loved ones for four weeks.
The Queen is said to be ‘furious’ after Royal Household staff revolted against a plan for them to stay in a Covid bubble at Sandringham over Christmas. Pictured: Her Majesty pre-recording her annual Christmas Day message at Buckingham Palace before heading to Norfolk in 2018
Staff were being asked to stay for the month-long period so they could remain in a Covid bubble to protect the 94-year-old monarch.
The uprising means Her Majesty could be forced to spend Christmas at Windsor Castle for the first time in 33 years.
‘The Queen is furious,’ a royal source told The Sun.
‘The staff said enough is enough. It is absolutely unprecedented.
The Queen typically spends her winter break at the Sandringham estate, travelling up to Norfolk after the Christmas party for extended family members at Buckingham Palace in December
‘Everybody wants to stay loyal but they feel they’ve been pushed too far by being made to isolate from their families for Christmas.’
The uprising is said to involve cleaners, laundry and maintenance workers.
A source said: ‘Discussions are taking place with the team on operational matters but it is too early to speculate on implications for Christmas.’
The Queen typically spends her winter break at the Sandringham estate, travelling up to Norfolk after the Christmas party for extended family members at Buckingham Palace in December.
The monarch could be forced to make a tough decision about who to invite over for Christmas Day if the current ‘Rule of Six’ restrictions remain in place into December
Until recently she had been at Balmoral in Scotland with Prince Philip, 99, but travelled down to Sandringham on September 14.
A royal spokesperson said the Queen intends to return to Windsor Castle in October and carry out a reduced schedule of audiences and engagements Buckingham Palace in the run up to Christmas.
But the monarch could be forced to make a tough decision about who to invite over for Christmas Day if the current ‘Rule of Six’ restrictions remain in place into December.