Buckingham Palace on Tuesday announced major scheduling changes affecting Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family amid the coronavirus outbreak.

As a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances, a number of changes are being made to The Queens diary, the statement said.

The queen will keep her scheduled meetings at the palace this week with the prime minister, the commander of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Bishop of Hereford. But the 93-year-old monarch will leave for her Easter break at Windsor Castle on Thursday, one week earlier than expected, the statement added, and she will likely stay at the castle longer than anticipated.

Other events that the queen had planned to attend, including the annual Maundy Service as well as a few garden parties, will be canceled, and investiture ceremonies will be delayed.

In consultation with the Medical Household and Government, a number of public events with large numbers of people due to have been attended by The Queen, and other Members of the Royal Family , in the coming months will be cancelled or postponed, the statement said.