This morning, Prince William and Kate Middleton held an audience with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska at Buckingham Palace. According to the British Press Association, it was the first royal engagement held in the palace, the seat of the monarchy, in seven months.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge taking on this important meeting may be a signal that as the coronavirus crisis continues, the younger royals will assume more and more responsibilities—likely because the danger COVID-19 poses to Queen Elizabeth, at the advanced age of 94, is far greater. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stepping up again in their official royal roles...." royal reporter Rebecca English commented on Twitter.
Neither the royals nor their guests wore masks, but they did maintain a safe distance from each other, and refrained from shaking hands—a move that was customary for audiences prior to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth has returned to Windsor Castle after her stay at Sandringham Estate and customary summer vacation at Balmoral Castle. Prince Philip has remained behind in Sandringham, marking the first time the couple has been separated since the UK's lockdown began in mid-March, when they began self-isolating with a "bubble" of staffers at Windsor.
Earlier this month, the royal family announced that there wouldn't be large events held at either Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace through the rest of the year—but suggested that the Queen will, in fact, be holding audiences and small engagements at both royal residences.
Reads an update to the royals' website, "The Queen’s intention remains to return to Windsor Castle in October and to resume the use of Buckingham Palace during an Autumn programme of Audiences and engagements, in line with all relevant guidance and advice."
Chloe is a News Writer for Townandcountrymag.com, where she covers royal news, from the latest additions to Meghan Markle’s staff to Queen Elizabeth’s monochrome fashions; she also writes about culture, often dissecting TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Killing Eve.
