Queen Elizabeth shocked the world on Tuesday when it was announced that she is breaking a decades-long royal Christmas tradition amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

“Having considered all the appropriate advice, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have decided that this year they will spend Christmas quietly in Windsor,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement, according to Entertainment Tonight.

It’s been a tradition for decades that the British royal family spends Christmas at their Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. There, they typically make public appearances on Christmas morning at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene service. However, royal reporters say that the 94 year-old Queen is not planning to attend any church services due to concerns over crowds amidst COVID-19.

It is still not known at this time whether the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, 99, plan to see any members of the royal family on Christmas. It had previously been reported that their son Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, plan to spend the holidays at their Highgrove House in Gloucester, England.

The Queen has been quarantining with Philip at Windsor Castle much of the time since lockdowns began in March. Given their advanced ages, the Queen and her husband would be considered high risk for complications if they were to contract COVID-19. The pandemic has already hit the royal family, as both Charles and his son Prince William tested positive for the virus earlier this year. Thankfully, both of them made a full recovery.

“Christmas is something the Queen has always done with enormous, genuine family style, and is facing not doing so sadly,” royal biographer Robert Lacey, author of “Battle of Brothers,” previously told People Magazine. He added that “she is accepting of that.”

The Queen has reportedly already canceled the annual sparkling reception for diplomats and embassy staffs, which typically takes place at Buckingham Palace early in December. She’s also canceled the holiday party for her extended family that she usually holds at the palace later in the month.

While the Queen is undoubtedly unhappy that she may not get to see her family, a former royal staffer said that the 94 year-old monarch may be looking forward to some downtime.

“She might want a rest — you never know,” the ex-staffer explained. “She might be happier for a quieter household this year.”