Windsor Castle staff tending to the Queen in ‘HMS Bubble’ are forced to spend a week in isolation

Windsor Castle staff tending to the Queen in ‘HMS Bubble’ are forced to spend a week in isolation and pass a coronavirus test before each three-week shift begins.

The monarch, 94, went into self-isolation at the Berkshire estate nine weeks ago alongside her husband Prince Philip, 98, who moved from Sandringham amid the pandemic.   

They are joined by a team of 24 devoted employees, who work to provide a protective shield around Elizabeth and Philip which Windsor Castle colleagues are calling ‘HMS Bubble.’

The staff are split into two groups of 12 who work away from their families on a ‘three weeks on, three weeks off’ basis, the Sun reported.

Royal staff, including chefs, cleaners and officials, spend two weeks at home and a third week in quarantine during their time away from Windsor, it was said.

Windsor Castle staff tending to the Queen (pictured earlier this year) are forced to spend a week in isolation and pass a coronavirus test before each three-week shift, an insider claimed

The monarch, 94, went into self-isolation at the Berkshire estate (pictured on May 8) nine weeks ago alongside her husband Prince Philip, 98, who moved from Sandringham

The monarch, 94, went into self-isolation at the Berkshire estate (pictured on May 8) nine weeks ago alongside her husband Prince Philip, 98, who moved from Sandringham

Under strict measures to protect the monarch, each employee is then tested for Covid-19 and has their temperature taken before they can begin another three-week rotation. 

Those involved in the Queen’s security operation include her favourite page Paul Whybrew – with whom she is so comfortable that they often watch TV together, and who co-starred in her James Bond skit for the London Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Led by master of the household Tony Johnstone-Burt and the Queen’s private secretary, Edward Young, the team have willingly agreed to live away from their own families for the duration of the lockdown. 

It means they can serve the monarch and her husband without needing protective equipment such as gloves and masks, or to abide by social-distancing guidelines. 

By remaining solely in their ‘bubble’, they will not come into contact with anyone else and therefore won’t contract the virus. 

In a morale-boosting email to household staff, former vice-admiral Johnstone-Burt compared ‘HMS Bubble’ to a naval exercise. 

They are joined by a team of 24 devoted employees, who work to provide a protective shield around Elizabeth and Philip which Windsor Castle colleagues are calling 'HMS Bubble'

They are joined by a team of 24 devoted employees, who work to provide a protective shield around Elizabeth and Philip which Windsor Castle colleagues are calling ‘HMS Bubble’

He said: ‘The challenges that we are facing, whether self-isolating alone at home, or with our close household and families, have parallels with being at sea away from home for many months, and having to deal with a sense of dislocation, anxiety and uncertainty.’ 

It is expected the Queen will remain in lockdown at the Berkshire estate for months to come, and her diary is said to be under review until the end of the year. 

A source said: ‘No chances can be taken with the Queen and the Duke’s health, so it’s totally understandable. But the fact this move has been taken indicates there will be no change soon.

‘The Queen will clearly be in lockdown for many months. It’s hard to see when it will be deemed safe for her to venture out again.’  

It comes after Lord Chamberlain Earl Peel, head of the Royal Household, warned the Queen could lose £18million amid the coronavirus lockdown.

In an email to staff, the Lord Chamberlain admitted royal income is expected to fall by as much as a third this year due to restrictions on movement and the closure of royal palaces.  

He also told workers that there will be a pay freeze, as well as a freeze on recruitment. 

The staff, whose numbers recently increased from 22, are split into two groups of 12 who work away from their families on a 'three weeks on, three weeks off' basis

 The staff, whose numbers recently increased from 22, are split into two groups of 12 who work away from their families on a ‘three weeks on, three weeks off’ basis

Last year, tourism earned the ­royals more than £70million from ticket and souvenir sales.

The royals earn millions from the Crown Estates, though that income will now fall significantly amid lockdown.

Buckingham Palace brings in around £12 million a year, Windsor Castle £25 million, Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh £5.6 million, the Royal Mews £1.6 million and Clarence House £132,000.

The Queen is worth £350 million and the Sovereign Grant, paid to the royals annually by the taxpayer to fund official duties, was £82.4million last year.

The email read: ‘The crisis has already tested our resilience, adaptability and preparedness in many ways and at all levels across the organisation. It has also had a significant impact on the activities of the whole Royal Household.

‘Although the UK appears to be over the peak of infections, it remains unclear when measures such as social distancing will come to an end.

‘We must therefore assume it could still be many weeks, if not months, before we are able to return to business as usual.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk