Queen Elizabeth's entire staff have been called to attend an emergency meeting on Thursday (04.05.17) morning.
Queen Elizabeth
Courtiers from royal residences across the country - including the Balmoral estate in Scotland, South East England's Windsor Castle and Sandringham in Norfolk, East England - have been summoned to a special "all-staff" gathering at Buckingham Palace in London, where they will be addressed by the Lord Chamberlain and the queen's Private Secretary Sir Christopher Geidt.
It is unclear what the meeting is about, but reports insist it does not concern the health of the 91-year-old monarch or her 96-year-old husband, Prince Philip.
All-staff meetings are not unprecedented and do happen from time to time, but it is "highly unusual" for one to be called at such short notice, and even the most long-serving household employees have not been informed about the reason for the meeting.
A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Everyone is on tenterhooks.
"Although meetings involving the entire royal household are occasionally called, the way this has been done at the eleventh hour is highly unusual and suggests that there is something major to be disseminated.
"But at the moment, only those closest to her genuinely know what on earth this is all about."
The Lord Chamberlain is the Royal Household's most senior officer and heads a department which deals with protocol, state visits, investitures, garden parties, the State Opening of Parliament, royal weddings and funerals.
The queen has just returned to her London residence following her lengthy Easter break at Windsor Castle.
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