The British royal family is being grounded on Christmas, thanks to the coronavirus.
The royals will be skipping their traditional Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church due to a resurgence of the global pandemic, according to a report.
It will be the first time in more than three decades that Queen Elizabeth II and her family will skip the service, The Sun reported.
“Members of the Royal Family and media are advised there will be no organised royal event at Sandringham this year,” Norfolk Police said in a statement, the newspaper said. “Members of the Royal Family will not be attending the usual Christmas Day service.”
The decision stems from concerns over the possible spread of the coronavirus, not just among the royals, but the thousands of loyal Brits who typically pack a paddock next to the 18th Century church, which is on the queen’s Sandringham estate.
Last year, Prince George and his sister, Prince Charlotte, even mingled with the crowd.
This year, the queen, 94, and her husband, Prince Philip, 99, will spend a quiet Christmas at Windsor Castle — the first time they’re doing so since 1988, the Sun said.
The canceled mass is just one of several Christmas traditions worldwide being called off this year due to the deadly virus — including Pope Francis’ annual Christmas Eve mass, which is being held early so parishioners can get home before a 10 p.m. curfew.