Charles and Camilla’s overseas tour postponed due to coronavirus pandemic
The royals’ spring overseas trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Jordan was due to take place later this month.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have postponed their spring tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Jordan because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Clarence House said the request came from the Government.
Heir to the throne Charles and Camilla are understood to be in good health.
The tour may be replaced with engagements in the UK, but not those involving significant gatherings of people to avoid putting any additional pressure on public services.
The trip was to be the first official royal visit to Cyprus for 27 years.
Charles was set to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 17 and 18, be joined by Camilla in Cyprus from March 18 to 21, and head to Jordan together until March 25.
On his solo visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the prince was due to pay his respects in the 25th anniversary year of the Srebrenica genocide.
Members of the royal family have already been altering the way they greet others in the wake of the outbreak of the Covid-19 illness.
Charles has been adopting a namaste rather than a handshake on engagements and the Duke of Sussex bumped elbows with musician Craig David at the Commonwealth Service.
The Queen wore large gloves as she handed out honours to recipients at a palace investiture on March 3.
The monarch turns 94 next month, and the risk of more severe symptoms from the Covid-19 illness is greater for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has said the death rate for people infected with coronavirus is “significantly ramped up” among those over the age of 80.
Among the forthcoming events in the royal calendar is an away day to Cheshire by the Queen next week.
The royal households have also been planning for an incoming state visit by the Emperor of Japan at Windsor Castle in May.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s granddaughter, Princess Beatrice, the Duke of York’s eldest daughter, is preparing to marry property tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi – who has dual British and Italian citizenship – at the end of May.
Italy, the world’s worst-hit country after China, is in nationwide lockdown.
Charles held an investiture at the palace on Thursday and Camilla joined racegoers on Ladies’ Day at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday.
It is not yet known whether the coronavirus will affect Royal Ascot or the Queen’s garden parties later in the year.
More than 8,000 guests at a time mingle on the lawns of Buckingham Palace in London or at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
The monarch welcomes more than 30,000 people to garden parties every year.
