--- description: A Buckingham Palace official says that a meeting of royal household staff has been called, but that there is "no cause for concern" title: Buckingham Palace Says Staff Meeting 'No Cause for Concern' image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt69b8f5ecc98af193/6988cbf497cdffbc636b08c9/gettyimages-521158431.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Buckingham Palace Official Says Royal Staff Meeting Is 'No Cause for Concern' by [Simon Perry / People](/author/people/) ## Simon Perry / People Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 4, 2017 6:40 AM CUT  Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the Royal Ascot Races on June 16, 2004. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the Royal Ascot Races on June 16, 2004.Tim Graham—Getty Images by [Simon Perry / People](/author/people/) ## Simon Perry / People Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 4, 2017 6:40 AM CUT A well-placed [royal source tells](http://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeth-prince-philip-health/ "undefined") PEOPLE that there is “no cause for alarm” following rampant speculation about [Queen Elizabeth](http://people.com/tag/queen-elizabeth-ii/ "undefined") and husband [Prince Philip](http://people.com/tag/prince-philip/ "undefined"). The rumors began after reports emerged of an emergency meeting being called for Buckingham Palace staff from around the country. They are expected to gather at the palace mid-morning. The meeting is confirmed, but there is no grave reason for it. Large staff meetings — called by the Queen’s private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt and the Lord Chamberlain, who runs the royal household — do happen periodically. There is some speculation that it could be about the Queen, who is 91, or Prince Philip, 95, standing down from some of their public duties. A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment. Prince Philip was at an event in London on Wednesday, where he helped open the new Warner Stand at Lord’s Cricket Ground. _This_ [_article_](http://people.com/royals/queen-elizabeth-prince-philip-health/ "undefined") _originally appeared on_ [_People.com_](http://www.people.com "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4766523/buckingham-palace-queen-elizabeth-prince-philip/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4766523/buckingham-palace-queen-elizabeth-prince-philip/"},"headline":"Buckingham Palace Official Says Royal Staff Meeting Is 'No Cause for Concern'","datePublished":"2017-05-04T06:40:21.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T04:44:36.721Z","description":"The sudden staff summons caused speculation about the health of the royal family","url":"https://time.com/4766523/buckingham-palace-queen-elizabeth-prince-philip/","keywords":["United Kingdom","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt69b8f5ecc98af193/6988cbf497cdffbc636b08c9/gettyimages-521158431.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Simon Perry / People"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt69b8f5ecc98af193/6988cbf497cdffbc636b08c9/gettyimages-521158431.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Philip And Queen At Ascot","caption":"Philip And Queen At Ascot","creditText":"Tim Graham—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4766523/buckingham-palace-queen-elizabeth-prince-philip/","name":"Buckingham Palace Official Says Royal Staff Meeting Is 'No Cause for Concern'"}}]}] ```