Royal Reunion with Queen and family at William and Kate’s final stop of country-wide tour

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's whistle-stop tour across the country finally came to an end when the royal train stopped at Windsor Castle, where the Queen joined the couple in thanking local volunteers and key workers.

Queen Elizabeth II talks with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle to meet and thank members of the Salvation Army and local volunteers and key workers from organisations and charities in Berkshire, for the work they are doing to help others during the pandemic and over Christmas (photo: Glyn Kirk/PA Wire).

The monarch's appearance was the first time she has been seen in public with the Prince of Wales and senior members of the monarchy since before the coronavirus pandemic.

Kate and William’s trip has provoked discreet criticisms from Welsh and Scottish ministers, who raised suggestions about the timing of the visit while Covid cases were still prevalent and many parts of the UK were subject to strict Covid rules.

However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the royal couple’s tour, which covered 1,250 miles over three days, was a "welcome morale boost" - despite Downing Street officials initially refusing to say it complied with coronavirus restrictions.

The Queen stood on the steps of the Equerry's entrance in the castle's quadrangle today and listened as the Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army, who are based in London's Oxford Street, played Christmas Carols.

Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, William and Kate, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Princess Royal - who had all arrived separately to the monarch joined the Queen at an orchestrated social distance.

Earlier, Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething had said he would prefer it if "no-one was having unnecessary visits" before William and Kate travelled to Cardiff Castle and met students.

Mr Gething said he was not "particularly bothered or interested" when asked during BBC Radio 4's Today programme if he thought the couple should travel to Wales.

But he said William and Kate's visit should not be used by people as an excuse to say they are "confused" about coronavirus regulations.

Mr Gething echoed the sentiment of Scotland's First Nicola Sturgeon, who suggested the duke and duchess travelled to Edinburgh on Monday despite their office being made aware of restrictions for those wanting to cross the border.

William and Kate have been touring the country thanking key and frontline workers and communities for their efforts during the pandemic.

On Tuesday, they began the day in Cardiff, before travelling to chat to staff and then met residents at Cleeve Court Care Home in Twerton in Bath.

Their penultimate stop before Windsor was the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, to pay tribute to the work of the nurses.

On the day NHS began its mass vaccination programme across the UK, William told the medical staff: "Keep going. There is light at the end of the tunnel."

In response to a suggestion that No 10 was refusing to give its backing to the couple's trip, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I would point you towards the palace."

Later a statement was issued confirming the Mr Johnson's support, a No 10 spokesman said: "The PM is delighted to see the warm reception the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have received on their hugely valuable train tour of England, Scotland and Wales.

"The tour will be a welcome morale boost to frontline workers who have done so much during the pandemic."

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