The Palace of Holyroodhouse will close to the public on Friday afternoon.

The Royal Collection Trust, which manages the property on behalf of Her Majesty, announced the closure after visitor attractions across the city closed their doors for the foreseeable future.

Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum, the Scottish National Gallery and the Scott Monument have all been sealed off after a plea from the Scottish and UK governments for people to minimise social contact to help curb the spread of the virus.

The Royal Collection Trust also announced the closure to the public of the Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews, as well as Windsor Castle.

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An official statement said: “The safety and wellbeing of our visitors and staff are our priority. The last day of operation will be Friday, 20 March. Ticket sales for visits from 21 March until 1 May 2020 will be halted, and anyone who has booked to visit between those dates will automatically be refunded.