The Queen's servants are now working three-week shifts to keep her safe amidst the pandemic

Publish Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2020, 5:52PM

Queen Elizabeth II's closest servants are working three-week shifts in rotation in order to keep the monarch safe from coronavirus.

The 94-year-old - who has been isolating away from the rest of the royal family with her husband Prince Philip in Windsor Castle - has kept just her 24 of closest staff members on to care for her amid the pandemic.

To ensure she is not at risk of picking up the potentially-deadly virus, the 24 staff have been split into two teams of 12, who work with her for three weeks, before having three weeks off whilst the next team takes over.

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Her Majesty The Queen addresses the UK and Commonwealth in a special broadcast recorded at Windsor Castle. . ‘We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.’ . Watch The Queen’s broadcast in full on our IGTV channel.

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During their three weeks off, the staff are allowed to spend two weeks at home with their families, before they must quarantine for a week, where they are also tested for COVID-19 before they return to work for the next three weeks.

A source told The Sun: "No chances can be taken with the Queen and the Duke's health, so it's totally understandable.

"But the fact this move has been taken indicates there will be no change soon. The Queen will clearly be in lockdown for many months.

"It's hard to see when it will be deemed safe for her to venture out again."

Members of the royal family have been sheltering away from public events for nine weeks now - and its thought the royals could continue to self-isolate long after the rest of the UK resumes operating as normal.

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