The Queen holds first virtual audience at Buckingham Palace from Windsor Castle
Many thousands of people have bowed and curtsied to the Queen during her seven decade reign.
But until yesterday, none had done so as the monarch peered at them from 20 miles away via a computer screen.
Never one to shy away from new experiences, the Queen held her first virtual audience at Buckingham Palace from Windsor Castle, signalling that for now, this was the new royal normal.
The 94-year-old broke new ground as she hosted three ambassadors to the UK, her first audiences at the palace since March.
Keen to ensure that the ceremonial aspect of the occasion remained the same, state Ascot Landau carriages travelled from the Royal Mews to collect the various dignitaries from their respective residences or embassies before driving them through the streets of London to Buckingham Palace.
There, they were received by Major Tom White, the Queen’s new equerry, who was performing his first official duty having only begun in the new role this week.
The new commissioners were taken through to the Equerry’s Room, where they were introduced to the Queen, who beamed at them from a flat Cisco computer screen adorned with a video camera from the Oak Room at Windsor.
Dressed in a pale blue dress, the monarch looked delighted to be returning to normal duties, of sorts, chatting animatedly to Sophie Katsarava, ambassador of Georgia, Gil da Costa, ambassador of Timor-Leste also known as East Timor, and Ferenc Kumin, ambassador of Hungary, and his wife Viktoria Kumin.
Each ambassador presented their credentials to the monarch by leaving them on a table next to the computer screen, from which they will be collected and sent to Windsor.
It is understood that audiences will continue to be held this way for the foreseeable future, allowing the Queen to continue her work whilst remaining shielded from public contact.
Diplomatic audiences have remained almost unchanged since the Victorian era.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "Diplomatic audiences are a long standing and traditional part of the monarch's role and the hope has always been to restart them as soon as possible.
"A variety of options were considered in line with current guidelines to reintroduce diplomatic audiences while retaining some of the long-established ceremonial elements, such as the use of Buckingham Palace."
She added: "At this time, in line with medical advice, Her Majesty will conduct diplomatic audiences virtually from Windsor Castle."
The Queen has held an audience via video link before speaking virtually with Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, upon his appointment in July.
The head of state's last audience in person at Buckingham Palace was on March 18, with Commodore Stephen Moorhouse, the outgoing commanding officer of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, and his successor Captain Angus Essenhigh.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh spent the second lockdown together at Windsor and will remain there for Christmas, spending the festive season quietly together.
