Amid concerns of the Omicron variant spreading rapidly across the country, the royal family has made the difficult decision to cancel their traditional Christmas Day walkabout.

This annual event, where thousands of royal enthusiasts gather to greet the Queen and her family, is seen as a potential super spreader event for COVID-19.

In an effort to protect both the royals and the public, the gates to the Queen’s private grounds will be closed, and access to the famous footpath on the Sandringham Estate will likely be denied.

While visitors may still be allowed on the estate, sources indicate that stringent measures will be put in place to ensure public safety.

The threat of COVID-19 remains a top priority, and it is expected that public access will be restricted on Christmas Day.

A source close to the situation stated, “Everyone would love for everything to be back to normal, but unfortunately, the current circumstances are far from ideal.”

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the Queen’s plans for Christmas.

Traditionally, several hundred people, including international guests, travel to Sandringham for the walkabout.

Dedicated well-wishers often start queuing as early as 2 am, hoping to extend their Christmas greetings to Her Majesty and seize the opportunity to shake hands with members of the royal family, such as Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, and Kate.

If the event is indeed canceled this year, it will mark the second consecutive year without the Christmas Day walkabout.

Last year, due to the pandemic, the Queen spent Christmas at Windsor Castle, shielding with Prince Philip and unable to be joined by her extended family.

This year, plans for the Queen’s journey from Windsor to Sandringham via helicopter are still uncertain, according to palace insiders.