In Pictures: Royals in 2020 – face masks, video calls and Sussexes step down
Members of the royal family carried out engagements throughout the pandemic, albeit without handshakes.
The Queen during a visit to the Energetics Analysis Centre at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, Wiltshire in October (PA)
The royal family has had a busy calendar of engagements this year, despite the pandemic disrupting many of their official duties.
For the Duke and Duchess of Sussex it was the year they stepped away from royal life, while the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge both recovered from Covid-19.
Royal duties took on a new tone after lockdown in March, with even the Queen donning a facemask for a visit to Westminster Abbey in November.
And the usual big family gathering in Norfolk for Christmas was cancelled, with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh enjoying the festive period “quietly” at Windsor Castle.
The Prince of Wales wearing ear defenders during a visit to the Whittle Laboratory, a power research lab at the University of Cambridge, in Cambridge.
PA
The Prince of Wales greets members of the public as he leaves the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon during a tour of Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
PA
The Duchess of Cambridge, during a SportsAid event at the London Stadium in Stratford, London.
PA
Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to Royal Air Force Marham, Norfolk, where she inspected the new integrated training centre that trains personnel on the maintenance of the new RAF F-35B Lightning II strike aircraft.
PA
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex alongside the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines at The Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in early March (Eddie Mulholland/Daily Telegraph/PA)
PA
The Duke of Cambridge playing wheelchair basket ball during a visit to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall, Stanford on Soar, Loughborough, where he met with patients and staff and had a tour of the gym and prosthetics workshop.
PA
The Duchess of Cambridge holds a pint of Guinness during a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Ireland at the Gravity Bar, Guinness Storehouse, Dublin, during a three day visit to the Republic of Ireland with her husband the Duke of Cambridge.
PA
Kensington Palace handout photo showing Princes George (right), Louis (centre) and Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus.
PA
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, London on Commonwealth Day. The service is the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s final official engagement before they quit royal life.
PA
The Prince of Wales uses a Namaste gesture to greet Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood as he arrives at the annual Prince’s Trust Awards 2020 held at the London Palladium.
PA
Captain Sir Thomas Moore receives his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
PA
The Duke of Sussex seen chatting from his home in Santa Barbara, California, via video call with Black Lives Matter supporter Patrick Hutchinson (British GQ/PA)
PA
Princess Beatrice with her wedding dress as it went on display at Windsor Castle. Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July (Steve Parsons/PA)
PA
The Queen during a video link call in July for a ‘virtual’ visit to the FCO, to watch the unveiling of a new portrait of herself by artist Miriam Escofet (Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Crown Copyright/PA)
PA
The Duchess of Cornwall participates in a Zoom call with members of the Pepper Pot Centre in Ladbroke Grove, London in October (Justin Tallis/PA)
PA
In November the Queen wore a face mask during a ceremony to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey (Aaron Chown/PA)
PA
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toast marshmallows during a visit to meet students at the ‘Christmas at the Castle’ event held at Cardiff Castle to hear how they have been supported with their mental health during lockdown, on the final day of a three-day tour across the country.
PA
Princess Charlotte and Prince George attend a special pantomime performance at London’s Palladium Theatre in December to thank key workers and their families for their efforts throughout the pandemic (Aaron Chown/PA)
PA
PA
Most Read
- Trade union Unison faces backlash after questioning military intervention at NI hospitals
- Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Update on schools could come next week, says Education Minister
- Coronavirus: Swann 'to propose lockdown extension' - Five things Executive could discuss today
- Girl (5) allegedly murdered by parents was taken out of school after she complained of being in pain, court hears
- English 'will not care' if Northern Ireland leaves UK for united Ireland, says former Chancellor
Latest UK
- Boy, 14, arrested after teenager killed in ‘shocking and tragic’ street attack
- Woman seen lying down on railway crossing to pose for photographs
- John Lewis to repay £300m Covid loan early as sales pick up
- People urged not to rely on their neighbours getting vaccinated to protect them
- Hackney Council asks postal voters to submit new applications after cyber attack
Latest from Belfast Telegraph
- Boy, 14, arrested after teenager killed in ‘shocking and tragic’ street attack
- Relatives of plane crash victims cast flowers into Indonesia sea
- Woman seen lying down on railway crossing to pose for photographs
- John Lewis to repay £300m Covid loan early as sales pick up
- Portugal halts flights to UK over virus variant