Queen’s Christmas plans: Princess Anne’s husband Sir Timothy Laurence tests positive for Covid

Princess Anne and her husband will not be joining the Queen on Christmas day due to him contracting Covid, a Royal source said. 

MailOnline has confirmed that the 66-year-old retired Royal Navy Vice Admiral is recovering from the virus.

It is understood he is isolating at the Gatcombe Park estate he shares with the Princess Royal. Aides said Anne is also isolating at the estate in Gloucestershire. 

A source at Gatcombe Park confirmed to MailOnline tonight that the home of Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence had been hit by the virus.

The insider said: ‘It’s true, Covid is unfortunately on the estate. It means therefore that those in the Royal Household are having to isolate for the time being.’

Locals living near the sprawling Gloucestershire estate said the virus had not caused too many issues, with pubs reporting that while they had suffered festive cancellations, business had not been too badly affected.

Cafes and hair salons in the nearest town, Minchinhampton, still had a brisk trade although some shops said they had seen a drastic reduction in footfall recently.

It comes after the Queen announced that she had decided against spending her traditional Christmas at Sandringham as a ‘precautionary measure’ amid the rapid spread of the Omicom variant of the virus.

Instead, the 95-year-old monarch will remain at Windsor Castle, where it is intended members of her close family will visit her.

It is the first Christmas the Queen will spend without her husband Prince Phillip, whom she married in November 1947, who died in April aged 99.

The Queen decided to change her plans and stay in Windsor during the festive period this week.

Buckingham Palace aides described it as a personal decision and said it ‘reflects a precautionary approach’.

Aides confirmed at the time that she was expected she would be joined by members of the Royal Family but did not specify which ones and when they would arrive.

It is the second year the pandemic has caused the cancellation of the Queen’s Christmas trip to Sandringham.

Last week the Queen also announced that she would not be going ahead with her extended family pre-Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle.

It is understood he is isolating at the Gatcombe Park Estate he shares with the Princess Royal

That was also in response to concerns about the spread of the new Covid variant.

During the autumn the Queen had to withdraw from a series of public events, including the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow and the Remembrance Sunday service, due to health concerns.

She spent one night in hospital in London for checks.

Her Majesty has already recorded her Christmas message to be broadcast on the day. 

A source said that Sir Tim had contacted people on Monday this week, informing them that he had tested positive.

The Queen is now unlikely to spend Christmas Day with her daughter Anne (pictured in 2016)

He sent out emails stating that he had been in contact with a Covid transmitter and was himself testing positive.

The latest Government rules for those with the virus have been cut and now order sufferers to self-isolate for seven days, whereas before the requirement was ten days.

Victims who can produce a negative lateral flow test on both day six and seven, their final day of quarantine, are allowed to leave isolation.

But due to the Queen’s seniority, it is thought that even if Sir Tim is clear of Covid by Christmas Day, he will not travel to Windsor.