Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne’s husband, has tested positive for COVID-19, multiple reports state.
The 66-year-old is said to be isolating with his wife at their Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.
However, as a result the Princess Royal, 71, is unlikely to visit her mother, the Queen, at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day.
This Christmas marks the first since Prince Philip’s passing in April and due to the new COVID variant Omicron sweeping the UK, Her Majesty has been forced to make changes.
Traditionally, the Queen and her family celebrate Christmas at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk and attend the morning service at St Mary Magdalene’s Church.
Instead, the 95-year-old monarch will spend the festive season at Windsor Castle for the second year running. 2020 marked the first time the Queen had spent Christmas at Windsor in 33 years.
Though the Queen will be at Windsor, a royal source has said that members of her family will visit over the Christmas period.
With Prince Andrew and Sarah, the Duchess of York living nearby at Royal Lodge and their daughter Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank and their son August, 10 months, at Frogmore Cottage, it’s expected that they will visit Her Majesty.
The source added that sensible precautions will be taken by those visiting.
Whilst the Queen’s plans have been confirmed, it’s uncertain what other members of the royals will be doing for Christmas 2021.
Due to strict COVID regulations last year, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall stayed at Highgrove House in Gloucester whilst Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and their three children stayed at their Norfolk residence, Anmer Hall.
Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their two children, meanwhile, will spend their second Christmas stateside in America.