Queen Elizabeth left London for Windsor Castle earlier than planned because of the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday March 19.
The 93-year-old British monarch will remain there beyond the Easter period, the palace said, describing the changes as "a sensible precaution".
The decision comes a day after Britain ordered a shutdown of social life, instructing people to avoid pubs, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. Those aged over 70 with underlying health problems were told to isolate for 12 weeks from this weekend.
The United Kingdom put 20,000 military personnel on standby, closed dozens of underground train stations across London as the coronavirus crisis shut down whole swathes of the economy.
Britain has so far reported 104 deaths from coronavirus and 2,626 confirmed cases, but UK scientific advisers say more than 50,000 people might have already been infected.
Reuters
