Image Royal staff called to 'emergency meeting' at the palace 0:56 Queen Elizabeth's entire staff has been called to an emergency meeting in Buckingham Palace sparking panicked rumours about the Queen's health.
Staff writers News Corp Australia Network
QUEEN Elizabeth II’s entire staff from across the United Kingdom has been summoned to an emergency meeting at Buckingham Palace in London today.
Servants will reportedly be addressed by the Royal Household’s most senior officer Lord Chamberlain and Her Majesty’s Private Secretary Sir Christopher Geidt.
The meeting, called suddenly and described as ‘highly unusual’, sent Britain’s rumour mill and social media into a concerned frenzy that bad news is imminent.
However royal watchers said the announcement isn’t to do with a death, or even the health of the Queen or Prince Philip.
More details are expected around 7 or 8pm AEST.
There was earlier speculation that the announcement related to either the Queen’s health or that of her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Social media erupted in panic as word of the large-scale meeting spread, with many offering theories about the announcement, from abdication to far more serious issues.
The Mirror reported that even the most trusted of staff were left in the dark as to what the meeting will be about.
But a growing number of royal reporters in the UK say they’ve been told there’s no cause for alarm.
The BBC understands there is no cause for concern regarding the health of either the Queen or Prince Philip. — Peter Hunt (@BBCPeterHunt) May 4, 2017
BREAKING: Buckingham Palace official to AP: Royal household staff called to meeting but "no cause for concern." — The Associated Press (@AP) May 4, 2017
Both the Queen and Prince Philip appeared in good health today - Her Majesty meeting Teresa May and Prince Philip at Lords Cricket Ground pic.twitter.com/ARd8iJ1mkD — Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) May 4, 2017
RELATED: Worries persist over the health of Queen Elizabeth II
Royal Editor for Sunrise and the Evening Standard Rob Jobson has tweeted that special meetings of Palace staff like this are not unprecedented. He also said there was no cause for alarm.
ITV’s Royal Editor Chris Ship also downplayed the “hysterical speculation”, saying the meeting wasn’t related to a death.
Sorry I am not answering individual questions. Special meetings of Palace staff are not unprecedented. There was no meeting called for 3am. — Robert Jobson (@theroyaleditor) May 4, 2017
My understanding re so called Buckingham Palace "emergency meeting" is there is no cause for alarm. — Robert Jobson (@theroyaleditor) May 4, 2017
Lots of hysterical speculation about a Buckingham Palace announcement. There *is* a meeting today. But it's not -as some say- due to a death pic.twitter.com/Xi9HKkPO6G — Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) May 4, 2017
0600 London: Busy morning at #BuckinghamPalace. Quite a gathering. No one's quite sure why. pic.twitter.com/jOVEdrAtbp — Richard Gaisford (@richardgaisford) May 4, 2017
The Queen has just returned to Buckingham Palace from an extended visit to Windsor over Easter. She met with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.
Prince Philip was seen yesterday too when he opened the new Warner Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Household staff from as far as Balmoral in Scotland have reportedly been included in the roll call.
This appears to be from earlier today. Prince Philip looks great and in good spirits here. https://t.co/mPK47eVmfs — Kristen S Anderson (@KSoltisAnderson) May 4, 2017
The Queen and Prince Philip both took ill over Christmas and missed some public engagements, which raised concerns about their health.
However both recommenced some of their normal duties in recent months.
Prince Philip has suffered health scares in the past, including a heart problem and bladder infection.
Her Majesty marked her 91st birthday last month and Prince Philip turns 96 in June.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth celebrates 91st birthday 1:01 Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the world's oldest and longest-reigning monarch, celebrated her 91st birthday on Friday (April 21) as the Band of the Irish Guards play 'Happy Birthday' for her. Rough cut (no reporter narration).
batmanbatmanbatman1 on May 4th, 2017 at 04:43 UTC »
What I find most interesting is that even in this day of instant information and gratification, Buckingham Palace is still making everyone wait....
LifeIsBizarre on May 4th, 2017 at 04:36 UTC »
Everyone talking about the Queen or Prince Phillip dying, wouldn't it be funny if it was something completely out of left field, like absolute proof of the existence of aliens, or the Queen just found a treasure map leading to Atlantis among the royal library books.
Matthew77258 on May 4th, 2017 at 02:55 UTC »
If the Queen has passed, there's a very interesting and detailed method of telling the world. The tl;dr is pretty much the PM is told, who then tells the governments of the remaining commonwealth nations. Then the press association sends out an alert to the worlds media informing them of the news. The BBC 'RATS' alarm will go off, and then Great Britain will go into 12 days of mourning.
I don't know if its the same protocol for the rest of the royals, but it's still interesting nonetheless.
EDIT: Past 8AM in England, and there's no news.
EDIT 2: There'll be a staff meeting at Buckingham Palace this morning. It's not to do with the health of either the Queen or Prince Philip. Nothing to see here people, move along.