LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Britons on Wednesday to think twice about holiday socializing as the Omicron variant rampages through the country. A day later, Queen Elizabeth II canceled her annual pre-Christmas lunch for the royal family, according to people with connections to Buckingham Palace. Palace officials said it was a precautionary measure to avoid putting family members at risk by bringing a large group together at Windsor Castle. Elizabeth, 95, has largely receded from public view since October, when she abruptly canceled a trip to Northern Ireland after what palace officials characterized as exhaustion. She has continued to conduct video calls and taped a speech to welcome delegates to the United Nations’ climate conference in Scotland.

Source: New York Times December 17, 2021 01:37 UTC