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Queen Elizabeth II shifts from Buckingham Palace as aide tests positive for Coronavirus: Report

The aide, who has not been named, is believed to have taken ill and tested positive for the deadly virus earlier last week.

Queen Elizabeth II shifts from Buckingham Palace as aide tests positive for Coronavirus: Report

British Queen Elizabeth II (Photo: IANS)

Buckingham Palace is struck by Coronavirus pandemic as one of the royal aide has been reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 while Queen Elizabeth II was still at her London residence.

The aide, who has not been named, is believed to have taken ill and tested positive for the deadly virus earlier last week.

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The 93-year-old queen is reported to be healthy and has been sent to the Windsor Castle indefinitely on Thursday as a “precaution” after all her engagements were cancelled.

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Every member of the Royal Household staff who came in contact with the Coronavirus positive staffer has been placed under self isolation.

Although it is not known yet  how close the royal aide in question would have got to the Queen, according to UK media reports.

“The worker tested positive before the Queen left for Windsor. But the Palace has 500 members of staff so, like any workplace, it’s not inconceivable it would be affected in some stage,” The Sun quoted a royal source as saying.

There is no official confirmation on the news from the Buckingham Palace. But has clarified that it was taking all necessary steps in light of the advisory in place for the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been rapidly spreading in the UK as the death toll rose to 233 on Saturday.

“We wouldn’t comment on individual members of staff. In line with the appropriate guidance and our own processes, we have taken the necessary actions to protect all employees and people involved,” a palace spokesperson said.

The monarch is preparing to deliver a live television broadcast, in the coming days as a morale boost for the public during the ongoing crisis of Coronavirus pandemic, according to some reports.

Coronavirus has put Britain into a near shutdown with all social venues closed indefinitely and people advised to stay indoors and follow strict social distancing rules.

Earlier this week, the Queen had issued a statement of support and called on people to find new ways of staying in touch to get through the lockdown.

“Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge,” read the Queen”s statement, which said that she and the royal family “stand ready” to play their part.

“We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals – today and in the coming days, weeks and months,” she said.

Queen Elizabeth II is going to turn 94 next month, will be at the Windsor Castle in south-east England with her 98-year-old husband Prince Philip for indefinite time following consultation with her medical experts and the UK government.

Her regular “audiences” with Prime Minister Boris Johnson are set to continue for now but Buckingham Palace said that as a “sensible precaution and for practical reasons”, a number of other changes are being made to the rest of her diary.

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