Why Queen Elizabeth II Faces a Difficult Decision About the Royal Family Christmas

Queen Elizabeth II may have a difficult decision to make at Christmas this year—as Government COVID rules mean not all her children can join her traditional celebrations.

Brits have been told they can form special "Christmas bubbles," bringing three different households together.

However, Elizabeth has four children meaning at least two will not make it to her indoor celebrations at Sandringham, assuming she invites the royal family to join her and Prince Philip at all.

Buckingham Palace has made no official announcements about how the royal christmas will unfold but a palace insider told Newsweek the queen would not break the government rules.

A source said: "I don't think her Majesty has done anything since March which isn't within all the appropriate guidelines so you can safely assume she will be taking into account all the appropriate advice."

The Daily Mail reported Prince Edward, her youngest son, is likely to be in Elizabeth's Christmas bubble together with his wife the Countess of Wessex, though this has not been officially confirmed.

Prince Charles, the next in line to the throne, has the option of instead forming a bubble with wife Camilla's children and missing Sandringham this year.

Prince Andrew may want to spend Christmas with his daughters, Princess Eugenie, who is expecting a baby in the New Year, and recently married Princess Beatrice.

Prince William may also want to form his bubble with wife Kate Middleton's family, though difficult decisions may need to be made there too.

The Duchess of Cambridge has a brother, James Middelton, and a sister, Pippa Middleton, meaning the whole clan will not all be able to meet up under the guidelines.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be celebrating their first U.S. Christmas together separately, having bought their own house in California in the summer.

It is not currently clear exactly where they will be based on Christmas Day but they spent Thanksgiving at home in Santa Barbara.

In an ordinary year, the queen would gather the royal family at Sandringham, her Norfolk estate, after travelling up from Buckingham Palace on a Commercial train to King's Lynn station with ordinary Brits.

There would be a pre-Christmas dinner the week before in London, presents on Christmas Eve and a church service on Christmas Day.

On Boxing Day the royals shoot Partridge and Pheasant, which may still be possible for multiple members of the family this year since hunting has been classed as an outdoor sport, bringing it under different rules.

The government plans to introduce a tier system this week which would put the Sandringham Estate in tier two, the middle of three.

Religious gatherings would therefore be permitted though it is not known currently whether Elizabeth has any plans to go to church this year.