Over the weekend, Queen Elizabeth traveled from Windsor Castle to Sandringham, in Norfolk. Sandringham is one of the Queen’s private estates, and it was originally owned by her father (he bought it as his own country bolthole) FFS, okay I was wrong. When Prince Philip retired from public life, he spent his last years at Wood Farm at the Sandringham estate, a smallish cottage which had been modernized to his specifications. That’s where Penny Knatchbull would often visit with him, and sometimes the Queen would visit with him too. Apparently, that’s where the Queen wants to stay for the next several weeks too. She won’t stay at the Sandringham main house, she’s staying at Wood Farm.
Long after most families have taken their decorations down, the Christmas tree lights still twinkle at Sandringham. Inside the house, great fir trees are covered with traditional baubles of glittering red and gold. In the dining room stands a rare modernising touch, a gloriously unstuffy artificial silver tree with strands of tinsel hanging down.
Thanks to the Queen’s stipulations, the decorations are kept up until February 6. Some will say that it’s bad luck – and the Queen has certainly had more than her fair share of that. Yet those closest to the monarch know the decorations are a quiet tribute to her beloved father, whose early death on February 6, 1952, catapulted her to the Throne at the age of 25. They are a poignant reminder of the Queen’s sense of duty in carrying on his work.
The spirit of King George VI, who died at Sandringham aged 56, has been an ever-present guide throughout her reign. Today, without Prince Philip by her side, and with the 70th anniversary of her father’s death drawing near, she must miss him all the more.
Although she normally spends Christmas at Sandringham, the Queen has remained at Windsor Castle since the autumn – a Covid precaution – where she held muted celebrations with close family, including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
But The Mail on Sunday has learned that in preparation for the anniversary of her father’s death, and her accession to the Throne, the Queen will make a special pilgrimage to Sandringham in the coming days. Last night, sources confirmed that staff were preparing a modest cottage on the estate.
‘Everything is being put in order for the Queen’s visit,’ one said. ‘We’ve been told that she will stay at Wood Farm, rather than the main house, which is nice as that always had a special place in his heart.’ The Queen has stayed in the cottage before, but it will be the first time since Philip died and thus very fitting that she should return now.
Whether by helicopter or by car, the 140-mile journey from Windsor to Sandringham is one to be endured rather than enjoyed – particularly for a 95-year-old. So the decision to travel will not have been made lightly and must be taken as a sign that, if she is not robust, she is in reasonable health.
For the life of me, I do not understand why a 95-year-old woman wants the jarring, dizzying helicopter ride to Norfolk rather than a train ride or a car ride. I assume the chopper takes less time, but again, Liz’s 95-year-old bones are fragile and I don’t understand “hopping into a helicopter” for this kind of journey. But that’s what happened – she took the helicopter on Sunday, apparently. It’s worth noting that the Queen hasn’t been seen publicly or photographed since mid-December. It’s also worth noting that some of the royal reporters talking about this Sandringham visit are definitely making it sound like a Weekend at Bernie’s situation.
On the move. The Queen was flown 130 miles from Windsor Castle to Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate today. HMTQ will spend the next few weeks in Norfolk, meaning she will be there for the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on Feb 6.
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) January 23, 2022
As I wrote last month, the Queen has now arrived in Norfolk to spend the next few weeks privately on her Sandringham Estate. She will remain there until at least after accession day on February 6. It’s truly one of her ‘happy places’.
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) January 23, 2022
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
-
- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (C) reacts as she attends the State Opening of Parliament in the Houses of Parliament in London on October 14, 2019. – The State Opening of Parliament is where Queen Elizabeth II performs her ceremonial duty of informing parliament about the government’s agenda for the coming year in a Queen’s Speech.,Image: 539313796, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
-
- No use after 24 January 2021 without the prior written consent of The Communications Secretary to The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II records her annual Christmas broadcast in Windsor Castle, Berkshire.,Image: 578787598, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Victoria Jones / Avalon
-
- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greet guests at a reception for the Global Investment Summit in Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.,Image: 638818085, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: POOL, Model Release: no, Credit line: Alastair Grant / Avalon
-
- Queen Elizabeth II receives General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff, during an audience in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, Berkshire. General Sir Nick is relinquishing his role as the Chief of Defence Staff at the end of this month.,Image: 643610011, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Steve Parsons / Avalon
-
- Queen Elizabeth II receives the Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey during an audience in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Picture date: Wednesday November 24, 2021.,Image: 644696447, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
-
- Queen Elizabeth II records her annual Christmas broadcast in the White Drawing Room in Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Issue date: Thursday December 23, 2021 The photograph on the desk is of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, taken in 2007 at Broadlands, Hampshire, to mark their Diamond Wedding Anniversary.,Image: 649254904, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red / Avalon
-
- 113995, Kristy Swanson attends the 5th Annual QVC Red Carpet Style held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday February, 13, 2014. Photograph: © Pacific Coast News. Los Angeles Office: +1 310.822.0419 London Office: +44 208.090.4079 sales@pacificcoastnews.com FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE,Image: 529333430, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: PacificCoastNews / Avalon
-
- Buckingham Palace handout image of Queen Elizabeth II during her address to the nation and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus epidemic. The address was recorded at Windsor Castle. NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Well she is newly widowed,maybe she
wants to be around Phillips ‘presence’ .
Well, that is it. Charles reaching out to harry, the queen back to home, it think this is where the queen wants to be. It’s sad. I think charles is going to be taking over now. It’s time. A woman of this age working is inhuman to me.
It has the feeling of QB nearing the end, with maybe a heads up for H to come home soon.
Sea flower, that was my thought, too. I replied to Omid’ tweet in this manner. That is where her father died. And she is returning there, missing the occasion that is the whole reason for the ferkackta “Jubilee” year. Something is NOT right. We have NO IDEA when that pic was taken. Could’ve been months ago, like the one released of her (and was it Pedo? Or Charles?) and we found out *that* one was an old pic.
Something is DEFINITELY afoot with her health…
It definitely feels like the final resting place vibes going on here.
I disagree. The Queen is still going to be with us for a while. She will obviously be getting frailer and Charles will be doing more of her duties but she will still be with us. This Platinum Jubilee will be the most we are going to see of the Queen from then on, she will semi retire.
@PrincessK – not sure why, but I tend to agree with you that TQ isn’t immediately on the way out. Maybe because if she were that desperately ill, I’d expect Harry to have been on a plane yesterday. (I think the major security concerns have to do with Meghan and the kids, or if he were appearing at pre-scheduled events like WellChild; he could probably manage a quick visit in the usual stealth Sussex style).
My guess is, at a minimum TQ needs to use a wheelchair if she has to walk any distance, and she (they) doesn’t want pictures of that out there, especially as she approaches this big milestone. That would make sense given: her age; that we saw her using a cane last fall; and that we were told she had a back problem. Have seen this with two older family members (spinal stenosis), who can get along okay at home, because they can walk short distances, and rest if needed – but use a traveling w/c for things outside the house. And if Wood Farm is equipped for someone with mobility or balance issues, it’s an additional reason she’d be better there, in addition to what you said below.
Undoubtedly they’re being super cautious of her health in general, certainly until February 6 is past. We’ll see what happens after that, e.g.making an appearance for Philip’s remembrance ceremony in April, etc.
If she makes it to her jubilee celebration, I would hope there would be statement about how she’s passing on the job to Charles. But would she, if she promised to do this her whole life?
It’s almost as if she is going there as her last trip. Didn’t Philip expire there? Or was it back in the castle? He spent the better part of his remaining years there, didn’t he?
She is definitely not ready to expire.
I agree NotSoSocialB. The queen probably wants to die at Sandringham.
I think it’s imminent.
I wonder if Wood Farm has better accessibility for wheelchairs etc since that’s where Prince Philip spent his final years.
That’s what I think as well. I get the feeling that her health is much worse than what the Palace lets on. I would be surprised if she lives the year out.
agreed. this narrative is super weird and I think the Queen is going there to die. sorry that sounds really morbid but old people like to be at home. I also had the same conclusion about wood farm and accessibility. handicap shower, ramps, etc.
Yes, I agree. Though she always spends her winter holiday at Sandringham but the fact that she is staying at Wood Farm does have a morbid sense to it. It’s not uncommon for a spouse to pass within the year of losing a spouse. Though, given how stubborn and cantankerous she is, she may live to be 110!!
I assumed they outfitted the house for assisted living when Philip moved there so it makes sense to go there if she needs 24 hour care.
I agree. Wood Farm is probably the only elder-friendly and outfitted place for TQ. There is a whiff of this being hospice, but this is probably where she can be looked after properly and where care is easiest to accomplish.
(I also feel very cynical- she is not only being looked after for the sake of wanting to keep her alive, but so that she reaches her accession deadline and they can still march ahead with Jubilee preparations. Also, she’s being kept alive because a funeral and an accession is not ideal. I don’t think the world is wants a King Charles or a maybe-POW William.)
I was going to say the same thing @gah said. I can’t help but feel like she is going there to live out her final days.
It makes perfect sense. We really haven’t seen recent pictures in a long while.
It’s also worth noting that all the past monarchs up to George V have died there. It has an ominous vibe to it. I’ve also gotten the feeling this is her last year.
Curious then that she wouldn’t let Philip stay there when he was dying or is that reserved for monarchs?
Equality, I think that was more protective for Covid. It was harder getting staff for them both; staff had to be isolated from their families for weeks prior to coming to work to ensure they wouldn’t be infected/symptomatic, and some were “revolting” at the thought of being away from their families for months at a time (esp. at Christmas). It was put out that it’d be easier to “bubble” TQ & PP together in one place.
@Equality – I think covid-related and holiday staffing issues, quicker access to the royal doctors, short drive to hospital, etc. are the reasons why Philip chose to relocate to Windsor Castle when his health became truly precarious. I don’t think TQ prevented him from staying there, it was for more practical reasons.
My thoughts as well. She’s moving to a house that is easier for someone who is ailing.
I suspect that’s what the “modernizations” are that were done for Philip. Stair lifts, bath rails, and so on. I also think she is on her way out.
If it wasn’t for the pandemic, she’s usually be at Sandringham through 6 February anyway. She moves in before Christmas, stays until after the anniversary of her father’s death.
Her moving to Wood Farm is the strange part.
@Nota Wood Farm is the strange part to me and the timing. Like why is she going now? Why not a week ago? Why not right after christmas? Why not go for Christmas itself (we didnt hear the same stories about the staff refusing to quarantine for the holidays that we did last year, but maybe that was the same situation?)
I get that she’s usually there for 6 weeks this time of year, but it seems like a lot of work to move her to Wood Farm for two weeks at this point. It definitely makes it seem like she is not doing well.
To me the Wood Farm part is weird but being at Sandringham isn’t. No matter her health, and it may be very bad, she is stubborn as a mule. If she wants to spend 6 February at Sandringham, as she has done for decades, that’s what she’s going to do.
Charles/courtiers might have agreed because it gets her away from Andrew. At Windsor he’s a 15 minute drive from mummy. With her at Wood Farm instead of the main house, there is no room for him to move in and manipulate her.
As far as timing, could be they were waiting for Covid status to be resolved for staff at those locations post any of their personal Xmas gatherings. especially as Omicron is so easy to transmit They knew from last year staff wouldn’t be happy missing time with family to accommodate TQ. Sandringham has always been where she is for February 6, would make sense this of all years that’s where she’d want to be.
I don’t think it is strange at all. Wood farm is much smaller and so need for so many staff, no need to incur big heating costs keeping Sandringham warm. Maybe she actually liked the look of the cosy set up Philip had at Wood Farm but he clearly did not want her there with him, and she felt the need to keep out of the way because of Penny. But now she can do whatever she wants.
This was actually my first thought, tbh. Smaller and much more accessible.
I thought she was too busy “holding her hands up in despair”
Looks like she’ll just be doing it at Wood Farm now
Not that it really matters, but the Queen’s father didn’t buy Sandringham because he wanted a country bolt hole. His older brother forced him to buy Sandringham and Balmoral because he had inherited them when their father died. The Queen’s father wanted them to continue to be the monarch’s private estates, but Edward refused to simply give them to him. I doubt he would have bought it otherwise.
Both the Queen’s grandfather and her father died there.was originally bought by the Queen’s great grandfather in 1862 when he was Prince of Wales. It passed to her grandfather George V before it was inherited by Edward and then sold to the Queen’s father.
Yeah Sandringham was bought by the Prince of Wales in the 19th century and since then goes from monarch to monarch. It’s because of the abdication that QEII’s father had to buy it.
Kaiser, I am laughing at your edit to your story. You know that we’re going to be all over something like that here, you have too many posters with too much royal knowledge who all like to be right (need to be right?)
And I’m including myself in that, lol. My husband will say to me sometimes “you don’t have to be right all the time!” and I’m like….well, I don’t HAVE to be, I just am. I’m a joy, I promise.
We are continual pains in Kaiser’s ass. Thankfully she puts up with us anyway.
The edit to the story is so Kaiser, that is way i enjoy reading her stories so much and Becks, notasugarhere and many other celebitches comments 🙂
I think the helicopter was to keep photos out of the press.. she must be worse than they wish the public to know.. my thought was that possibly not ambulatory. There is a sense of a final trip to some of these stories.
But there were pictures of her being driven onto the Sandringham Estate yesterday so the Palace wanted her to be seen. The reality is the Queen is too feeble and probably more easy to manage if she takes the short helicopter ride instead of travelling by train which is what she used to do.
The woman has her own train, with multiple bedrooms, space for nurses and chefs and anyone else she wants traveling with her! There is no way that wouldn’t be more comfortable, and much safer, for what is already a relatively short trip.
Were they recent pictures? Because the one I saw was from 2020 before she lost all that weight. It wouldn’t be the first time the press used an old pic.
Good point @Snuffles. I saw the pictures and assumed they were recent but now I’m wondering.
I presume she took the helicopter a) because it would be far quicker than car or train and b) because the story about her being ‘scared of helicopters’ from a few weeks ago is, as we suspected at the time, nonsense and was actually her (or someone) warning William to cut down on his Mistress trips to Norfolk…
@Enny — more risk of being seen by paps or just the general public I think. Even if no one saw Elizabeth, they’d have to make accommodations for her (presumably medical) entourage who would be with her on the journey. And maybe she’s at the point where she needs special equipment to get around (more than a cane). Helicopter cuts all that out.
Enny, the royal train has been criticized a lot in recent years. She started taking the regular train for her Sandringham trips because of it. A helicopter is both cheaper and faster.
How is it cheaper to fly by chopper than it is to buy a train ticket?
The Palace definitely wanted her to be seen.
Lady D, we’re not talking about her buying a regular ticket. She only did that a few times as a PR move. If she was using the royal train, which is what Enny suggested? The Royal Train costs around 1 million a year for 10 trips plus security costs. The helicopter is £2,000 per flight hour and that’s the rough flight time from London to Sandringham. And the train is much more public as others have explained. If they wanted to hide her condition the helicopter is the better choice.
Maybe she has gone home to wood farm to finally go home.
That was my thought as well.
I thought so too.
My thoughts as well.
Not sure I understand. Is home a euphemism for “the final resting place from whence one’s soul ascends to the bosom of eternal life”?
Yes.
Oh please, what is all this morbidity. She is 95 and not doing too badly. she is not about to expire!
How do you know? She’s 95 going on 96 ffs…she could expire anytime. This just looks weird that she’s going to Wood Farm and not the big house at Sandringham.
Lady D haaahaha you haven’t got the train in england before huh….
Nah I am obviously exaggerating but for an entiurage of people to get the train from windsor to norfolk would cost a LOT. Also there’s not one simple train line between the two. You’d need to get one train into london, the tube or bus or taxi across to the other side of london, then another train.. I don’t know how that works with the royal train, I’d be intrigued to know.
When the Fail tells you something ‘must be taken as a sign’, it usually means it’s the opposite of the truth. Other than the silly story about her waltzing around the streets of London minus pics, when was the last time she made a public appearance? Not a video or using rehashed photos.
95 year old woman in ill health chooses to get as far away from her children as possible, ostensibly to honor her long dead father – not for a day or two, but weeks – really says a lot about this family.
For a Queen, she rather infantilized herself or the media does so on her desire.
She is normally in Sandringham at this time of the year, and with Philip gone she now has access to more cosy Wood Farm, nothing more nothing less.
Wood Farm was able to accommodate Philip’s needs at the end of his life. I wonder whether she’ll ever leave.
They’re doing all they can for her to last past February 6th. After that day all bets are off.
That’s what I think, too. They’re desperately keeping her in a bubble so she doesn’t pull a Betty White and pass the week before the big date.
I agree February 6th is when she became Queen 70 years ago.
The Queens seems very childlike to me. It explains a lot of things that have happened over the last 70 years. Furthermore, how can a country have its Head of State on vacation at least five months every year. That’s ridiculous.
Her being a racist privileged ass would also explain a lot of it.
Maybe it’s because so many celebrities are dying right now in a very short period of time, but … this does feel a bit like it might take a dark turn.
They just need her to survive the next 13 days. I can’t blame her for wanting to be in a comfortable, accessible home that has sentimental meaning.
Her ‘happy place’- oh my, it sounds like she is going to convalesce. It leads me to believe the she was/is seriously ill.
I thought that Balmoral was her “happy place”? I guess the media will make up whatever stories they need to, when they need to…
Lol!
I don’t think it’s odd that she went somewhere. She’s been holed up in Windsor for a very long time. Wood Farm as her destination instead of Sandringham is most likely because her physical needs are greater and it is probably set up for someone elderly. Maybe it has one of those electric stair chairs? Probably also fewer staff and exposure risks.
But I want to know if we will we now get fawning coverage of the Cambridge kids visiting Granny? She’s very close to Anmer now.
I can see the RRs spinning all kids of sh!t around that. Her only comfort in these last days are those particular great grandchildren, because she has been ‘cruely denied’ seeing the ones who live in Cali.
This is a very “nothing to see here” kinda move. And I never believed the reason for her staying Windsor as being related to Covid. It’s always been about close proximity to London hospitals.
@M:
Youre absolutely right. Its the same storyline as for phillip: leaving a london hospital (shown walking! to make the plebs believe all was well) then convalescing at woodfarm. Now heres betty leaving windsor where she’s closer to type A hospitals because theres nothing else that medicine can do for her. its like she’s being taken to a hospice.
Oh please!
That makes a lot of sense, Charm.
@PrincessK- why are you so invested in claiming there is nothing wrong? We haven’t seen hide nor hair for some time, and before that there was some kind of event that garnered strange speculation, significant weight loss and purple hands? She’s around the corner from 96 and a new widow. It’s not at all inconceivable that her health is failing. Your emphatic denial is odd.
I agree that this all sounds like the queen is in end days. Interesting times ahead.
No.
Why are you so sure? I can certainly believe she’ll be with us for several more years, but given that she is 95 and her husband recently passed, it would make sense if she didn’t make it much longer, too. Either is possible. It is very common for people to pass within a short time of their long-time spouse passing, depending on how old they are and what their health is like.
My father passed at 80 and my mother is still with us, but she’s quite healthy for a woman her age. My father would have made it longer had it not been for an accident that compromised his breathing, and even after that he hung on for four years. But there is a big difference between 80 and 95. Big.
It might be nice if saying “No” were enough to make it so, but it’s more likely than not that the queen is fading and she knows it. In my dad’s last days, he summoned the energy to make his last arrangements, and once it was all to his liking, he passed. She doesn’t have much to keep her here, what with her pedo son, her ass heir, her incandescent grandson and his Macy’s Parade balloon float wife, and none of her old friends/relatives.
We all get that you’re a die-hard monarchist (especially after 10 comments, jfc) and want to pretend Liz will somehow always be there. And granted, none of us have any idea of knowing for sure. But the available evidence doesn’t look good toward her lasting much longer. No king or queen rules forever.
@AnneL may be that you did not know but the Queen and Philip led separate lives for decades. When he retired from public duties, and and she no longer had to drag him around with her she suddenly looked ten years younger.
OMG Merricat, “Macy’s Parade balloon float wife”.
Thank you for brightening up the Monday.
@Princess K – I don’t know where you’re getting your information but she most certainly didn’t look or act 10 years younger. She looked like a 90-something woman who was clinging tenaciously to her duties as Monarch, but the effect Philip’s declining health was having on her was noticeable and is now readily apparent after his death. As far as living separate lives for decades, she had to remain at BP most of the time for her duties as Queen. Before his retirement they were usually together: weekdays at Buckingham Palace (where they have suites in the palace, surrounded by a sizeable clerical staff of senior courtiers and assistants); weekends at Windsor Castle (where they enjoyed time together, non-official engagements, family visits, etc.). Easter and Christmas were traditionally spent at their private Sandringham House, again with sizeable family visits, etc. The summer, when there has usually been much less ‘work’ for the Queen to do, they spent at Balmoral Castle. As consort to the Queen, part of his everyday role was accompanying her to many official, formal and informal occasions and events, so a fair number of days were spent together. Obviously there were many occasions in which they would be sleeping in separate residences, usually depending on where around the country (or overseas) they were needed for various constitutional, state, formal and charitable activities. With a good staff of valets, secretaries etc., the arrangements for where one spent their time were made on their behalf—it is not as if Philip had to worry about packing his own toothbrush.
@Jaded. The Queen and Philip have been leading separate lives for decades. Even when they were both living at BP they lived in separate areas and ate separately and often didn’t see each other for days. As soon as Philip retired from public life he was off to Wood Farm to live the rest of his life out and his mistress was there with him as often as she could.
The Queen and Philip still shared a bedroom in every one of these palaces until he retired to Wood Farm. Whatever else, she did love him for eight decades. IMO losing him was devastating for her, and that could contribute to rapidly declining health.
I suspect it is one of the only places set up with all of the equipment someone needs as they age. I can’t imagine a lot of her castles have walk in showers, toilet risers, etc. I get the feeling she won’t leave again.
Of course she’s going to Wood Farm and not the main house. William is living there, remember? She probably doesn’t want to deal with him.
Oh good point, Becks! We’ve been thinking Wood Farm is just set up for sick people But she could be going there cause William is at the main house. That actually makes more sense than “they couldn’t set up appropriate care outside Wood Farm”
Where did you guys read hes living in sandringham? or any of these rumors about PW?
Genuinely curious, bc ive tried to do a little digging and cant find anything.
Would love to be pointed in the direction!
@Lindsey its just a theory some of us have. When he got COVID in spring 2020, no one else in his family got it, which is certainly possible but a little curious. Then maybe……last spring? 2021? I can’t remember, time means nothing anymore….He and Kate started zooming from Sandringham and there were some pointed stories in the press about it. it didn’t make any sense – why couldn’t they zoom from their own large country house, where they had been zooming the entire pandemic? Why the sudden change? But it makes sense if you think that William moved there and lives there and refused to go to Anmer to zoom anymore.
Lindsey- it’s rumor based on the fact the Cambridges switched from Zooming from Amner to Zooming from the main Sandringham house. It was theorized that they did that because Will was at the main house instead of with Kate at Amner, and he wanted to Zoom from there because he was already there.
Or William has been evicted from Wood Farm to make room for her. She and Philip used to stay there a few weeks each year, while Sandringham was closing up the tourist season and being made ready for private family Christmas. She might have fond memories of it, and want William and his Wandering Scepter moved elsewhere for now.
Yeah – a couple of comments on this. First, NOTA is right – reports have put William at Wood Farm, not at the main house – which also makes sense if he is there to tend rose bushes or other Norfolk foliage. Much less exposed than the main house. Second, rank is everything in this family and the TQ is top banana. There is NO WAY that William gets to stop Granny staying in whichever of her houses she damn well likes. Third, just an aside on the Covid contagious thing – there is a lot of evidence that with the early variant only a small proportion (around 20%) were actually spreaders when positive whilst the other 80% would have Covid but not infect others. There are multiple stories – including with close friends of mine – where one of the couple was ill but their partner and family didn’t catch anything. Whilst I am a card carrying member of the “Cambridge Convenience Marriage Believers”, the fact that Kate and kids did not catch Covid off William with an early variant cannot be taken as irrefutable proof that they were not living together at the time.
While William having Covid but not Kate is not definitive proof that they don’t live together, the entire secrecy about William getting Covid when it was announced almost immediately when Charles got Covid suggests that something was fishy with their living situation. Besides if he had in in spring 2020, there was the issue of William likely being contagious to others and in that time period kate went to visit a children’s hospice without a mask, albeit outside.
No one ever answered any questions about when he was contagious and whether or not kate was actually exposed and potentially visiting immune compromised children.
My kids and I just got over (thankfully mild) Covid a couple of weeks ago, and my husband did not catch it — BUT — he had gotten his booster shot less than two weeks before we got sick. I truly believe he was in the sweet spot window of immunity and that protected him. When William got it, there were no vaccines and not catching it from a immediate family member was incredible luck of the draw. It’s possible Kate and the kids were just lucky, but I agree the fact that they were so hush-hush about William getting it when they were transparent about Charles’ case is extremely suspicious. As in, somebody was someplace or with someone they shouldn’t have been and that is why he got sick. Can’t convince me otherwise
For the record my comment was partly TIC and not 100% serious (I don’t think William would be able to say to the queen “no, I’m staying here, find somewhere else” LOL) and I know that even the COVID diagnosis for him and no one else isn’t definitive proof that they don’t live together.
BUT William living at Sandringham in general is still something that I think happened, maybe not at this point but definitely for at least a year, and we should remind people of that when possible lol.
I just don’t think if she’s that ill that she’d take a helicopter. But the “nothing to see here” vibe is strong.
I don’t know…Medevac immediately comes to mind.
True, but if she was that sick, I think she’d be in the hospital.
When does William go to Dubai? And i hope Harry makes a secret trip to see her.
William goes to Dubai February 10. Harry has a virtual event with BetterUp on February 3, so perhaps the next slate of RR articles will be how Harry is overshadowing TQ’s 70th anniversary of her reign on the 6th.
@Kaiser, Sandringham was purchased by the family in 1862. Edward VIII inherited it and Balmoral as private property from their father, George V, on his death. It wasn’t like Bertie ran out and chose Sandringham as a house for his family. Bertie had to ransom it back from the Duke of Windsor during the abdication.
My first thought on seeing the the picture was why is she looking younger, and and what’s with that deep red lipstick. Either a earlier picture, or not the real queen???. But that is just my opinion.
Knowing the RF she probably already passed away and they are lying again….
Given her refusal to wear masks, and the fact that Johnson is lifting all COVID restrictions in Great Britain in a desperate attempt to rescue himself, I wonder if this also is designed to prevent her from being exposed to Covid by her staff, family, etc. that now is going to be performing engagements and the like in a completely uncontrolled COVID environment.
It’s been speculated that the Queen wants to die at Sandringham, as her father and grandfather did before her. (I believe she and her father were born there as well.) My guess is the helicopter and Wood Farm we’re both chosen to limit the number of people who see her in this state (it limits COVID exposure too, but we know that’s not their first priority.)
My guess is that she’ll pass on February 6.
Okay your last sentence shouldn’t have made me laugh, but it did. I’m a terrible person.
I’m really old. Not as old as Lilibet I, but old. I spend more time thinking of my parents and thinking of old times than I do thinking about my children and grand-children. I have fonder memories of the old time.
It may be in the Windsor blood–the significance of dates and anniversaries. Remember how Queen Victoria banned the 14th of December from the calendar? (I don’t recall the precise date). I think about my younger sister much more than I think about my very close friends.
We do revert to nostalgia. I’ve noticed this in the previous generation and now in mine: early years dominate the memory. Perhaps it’s because a day can seem like a month to an 8 year old and a decade can seem like a few months to the extreme elderly.
And Lilibet’s life has been based on the importance of tradition and of repetition. Perhaps this place is her Viking funeral boat.
OMG!
Is there any significance to that date in her life, or do you just have a feeling? Genuinely curious.
It’s when her father George VI died.
It’s the anniversary of her ascension and will mark exactly 70 years on the throne.
…Is this why there’s the “Harry contacted Charles” story? Did Harry make his weekly or daily FaceTime call to his grandmama and learn that this is the end?
The Queen is never going to leave Wood Farm. Whether it happens tomorrow or 13 years from now, something tells me Wood Farm will be her home for the rest of her life. I believe if she lives through her Jubilee, they’re going to make her abdicate to Charles. Vow or no vow to remain in service to the crown for the rest of her life, it’s becoming clear she can’t go on any longer and she’s harming the monarchy by holding on.
Whatever happens she will NOT abdicate. She swore to be Queen until she died and that is exactly what she will do – irrespective of the pros and cons. Abdication, after the Edward VIII debacle is seen by her as shameful and a dereliction of duty. The lady is dying in post.
I agree, she won’t abdicate. Not willingly.
What’s it called where she is still technically queen but Charles is running the show? There’s a word for it.
CaliFire, I think “regency” might be the term you are looking for.
When George III went crazy (often theorized to be porphyria), the Prince Regent ruled for a number of years until the King finally died. But he didn’t abdicate, he was still the king. And the Regency is known as one of the historical eras–Georgian, Edwardian, Victorian, etc. All named after who was monarch or acting as monarch at the time.
You are wrong. We will still see her again in Windsor and at Buck House, mark my words, the Queen is not about to expire. False alarm!!
On what do you base this opinion? Her lack of visibility for the past few months is very evident. Charles is gradually taking over the reigns as the covert regent as it’s clear her health is on a slippery slope now. There won’t be an official abdication or handing over of power to Charles, but when has the BRF been the least bit transparent?
Insider info??
You are beginning to sound like a maniac, PrincessK. A shrill, delusional maniac.
I think everyone guessing that Wood Farm is set up for this stage of life and where she wants to be for the remainder are correct. I would not be surprised if a regency becomes official after Feb 6.
I think the queen wants to die at Sandringham. Moving away from London/Windsor hospitals likely means there is no further treatment and time is of the essence.
Furthermore, **tinfoil tiara** I think the Palace Grey Suits have determined it will be easier to obfuscate her true condition from the public if she is up there. They can delay announcing her death for the days or even weeks needed to suit their goals, whether it’s “she made it the 70 years” or some other reason. I expect wily shenanigans.
Finally, I hope Prince Asshat is furious about having to leave Wood Farm.
PrincessK, your belief in TQ’s health seems determined. I don’t have a horse in this race because I’m American. I do know my Mom, who had a bit of a memory problem, was in the hospital in November and got a pacemaker. In the space of 4-6 weeks she’s in the midst of dementia living with my Nephew. I find it quite difficult to believe that the TQ at 95 has had no impact from her recent health issues. I also wonder if Covid plays a part–isn’t that what happened with Phillip? I admire your determined belief, but you might want to at least consider that TQ’s health is not good and she probably won’t be here much longer.
Depends on what your definition of ‘not much longer’ is. Four, five years?
This may be signaling that the queen’s reign is coming to an end. And frankly I don’t think the UK couldn’t handle her passing. One with issues like Brexit and that economic fallout; two, Bojo’s Party gate scandal; three, the new king and the POW in waiting backbiting each other through their press minions. All this wrapped up in a pandemic which may impact her send off.
I also am old – mid 70s. And I am happy to report that I spend little to no time in nostalgic daydreams. I am still busy interacting with family members, learning new things, reading books, watching movies and documentaries, etc.
I guess everybody is different.
My belief says that Harry wants to bring his children back to meet the queen before she passes. I think he thought he’d royal protection and was told no because of the climate of Andrew, etc and there is the statement Harry made through his reps. It makes sense she may go there to die, maybe to feel the spirits of love past from husband and family and feels safe. She’s 95, good for her, and with reassurance she can let go peacefully in to the abyss.