Why Queen Elizabeth May Never Return to Public Life (Video)

Like many of us, Queen Elizabeth has been sheltering in place at home. But, while you may be waiting out the minutes until you can return to your normal life, the Queen isn’t. In fact, according to one royal biographer, the Queen may never return to her normal public life.

“It’s terribly sad but I can’t see how the Queen can resume her usual job,” Andrew Morton, the royal biographer behind the book "Diana: Her True Story," told The Sun. “The Covid-19 virus isn’t going away soon and will be with us for months, if not years. It would be far too risky for the Queen to start meeting people on a regular basis.”

According to Morton and other insiders, the Queen is itching to get back to her royal duties and has always loved her time with the public. However, The Sun explained, staffers are preparing her home so she may stay inside and out of the spotlight until at least September. This would mark her longest absence from public life ever in her 68-year reign as Queen.

“She has always loved getting out and meeting people but she can’t take the risk,” Mortin said. “How can she carry out investitures, meet ambassadors, do walkabouts, and visit places without meeting people at close range?”

Mortin did venture one guess as to how we may all see the Queen again over the summer months: virtual meetings.

“The Queen’s speech last month was brilliant and it brought the country together,” he said. “To quote Churchill, it was her finest hour, but from now on we are maybe only going to be seeing her on video links. We will have a Zoom monarchy, she will be Her Majesty the screen."

Still, don’t feel too bad for the reigning monarch. As Travel + Leisure previously reported, she is currently sheltering at Windsor Castle alongside her husband, Prince Philip, and 22 other staffers to ensure their comfort.

“I’m sure that we shall emerge as a stronger, more considerate and more resilient Royal Household team as a result and able to do our duty for the Queen,” Master of the Household Tony Johnstone-Burt wrote in a now leaked memo to the palace staff. "Regardless of the roles we perform, we do them to an exceptional standard to enable the Queen.”