The Queen could be set to appoint the new Prime Minister at Balmoral instead of Buckingham Palace, amid concerns over her mobility.
Her Majesty has reportedly been told to stay at Balmoral on September 6, when she is set to declare either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss the next leader of the Conservatives and the country.
Plans are being put in place for Boris Johnson and the Tory Party leadership winner to make the 1,000-mile trip to visit the Queen, The Sun has reported.
While the plans are yet to be confirmed publicly, it would be the first time in living memory that the ceremony would have happened outside of London or Windsor.
The Queen
Kirsty O'Connor
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak
PA
The Sun report, citing a source, said: “The Queen has now been advised not to travel.
“But obviously no one tells the Queen what to do and ultimately it is her decision, and as we saw when she made a third appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the Jubilee she likes surprises.
“There are some parts of her role that Prince Charles can do on her behalf but the Queen is adamant that she appoints the Prime Minister.
“It may not be the best choice to make the Queen travel 1,000 miles there and back for a 48-hour visit when the Prime Ministers can easily get to Balmoral instead.”
It comes just months after Her Majesty opted to sit out several events during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, to mark 70 years of reign.
Among the events she missed included the Service of Thanksgiving and the Epsom Derby.