The Queen will reportedly continue to stay at Balmoral despite concerns for her safety after a staff member tested positive for Covid.
The employee was sent home on Saturday following a positive PCR test but the 95-year-old decided to stay at the Scottish retreat for her summer break.
Sources told the Sun that her Majesty sees the annual holiday as her chance to “get back to normal” following the death of Prince Philip and Harry and Meghan crisis.
She is also claimed to have a “castle-full” of relatives including Prince Andrew his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, granddaughter Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mozzi, and her youngest son Prince Edward and wife Sophie.
A source said: “All the staff at Balmoral are tested for Covid daily and on Saturday this person showed up as positive.
“They were sent home and the staff canteen and bar were shut. They’re on a separate block on the estate."
The source added that workers have been told to wear face masks and social distance but member of the royal family are "pretty much carrying on as they were.”
They also said that the Queen has given the green light for food to continue being served by workers after an idea of royals helping themselves from a buffer table was rejected.
The royals will also go out to shoot stags and will enjoy picnics on the sprawling estate.
The Queen and her family missed Sunday’s church service on the estate and insiders said this may have been decided while they were waiting for the results of PCR tests.
The Queen officially started her summer holiday at Balmoral last week.
She was officially welcomed at Balmoral Castle by a guard of honour - featuring a Shetland pony mascot.
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Traditionally the Queen inspects troops when she takes up residence at the castle and, outside the gates, the head of state cast her eye over soldiers from Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The Pipes and Drums of the regiment's 3rd Battalion performed during the ceremony and the Royal Regiment of Scotland's mascot, Shetland Pony Lance Corporal Cruachan IV, also took part.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman declined to comment.
