Enlarge image
Queen Elizabeth II at Prince Philip's funeral (17 April 2021)
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
The official residence of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologized to Buckingham Palace for two lockdown parties on the eve of Queen consort Prince Philip's funeral.
"It is deeply unfortunate that this has taken place at a time of national mourning," Johnson's spokesman said.
The prime minister had already emphasized this week that behavior at the seat of government must meet the highest standards.
Downing Street also takes responsibility "for things we didn't do right".
Johnson did not attend the celebrations
As the “Telegraph” reported, around 30 employees had been drinking and dancing in the office on April 16, 2021 until late at night.
At that time, strict distance rules applied because of the corona pandemic.
Regulations forced the Queen to sit alone in the chapel at her Windsor residence the next day as her husband of 73 years was buried there.
Johnson did not attend the celebrations, nor was he present at Downing Street.
Johnson's government had already come under sharp criticism from the public and from within its own ranks several times for alleged violations of the self-imposed corona rules.
The latest revelations about a garden party in May 2020 at the seat of government in Downing Street with dozens of guests had put considerable pressure on Johnson's government in recent days.
During lockdown, many Brits have not even been able to visit dying loved ones in hospital.
The police imposed numerous fines for violating the rules.
According to media reports, more than a hundred guests received an invitation to the garden party on May 20, 2020, including the Prime Minister and his now-wife Carrie.
Around 40 government employees followed the invitation and were asked to bring their own alcohol.
London police said on Tuesday they were investigating reports of the garden party at government headquarters.
muk/dpa
