Queen allowing Boris Johnson to exercise in Buckingham Palace grounds

The Queen has granted Boris Johnson permission to get his daily dose of exercise at Buckingham Palace as the prime minister ups his post-coronavirus fitness regime.

Johnson has been given the green light to jog in the royal grounds, which also feature a large outdoor tennis court, “amid security concerns over his habit of running in public spaces”, says The Telegraph.

He was photographed yesterday arriving at a side entrance to the Palace in an armoured Range Rover, the newspaper adds. A royal source confirmed that Johnson had been given permission by the Queen, adding that “from time to time” she had also allowed previous PMs to make use of the facilities.

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A government insider added: “It’s obviously important that the prime minister is able to take exercise.”

The London Evening Standard reports that Johnson has also been snapped exercising in the grounds of Lambeth Palace, after being granted permission by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

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The Mail on Sunday reported last weekend that Johnson is launching a battle against obesity in Britain and is on a personal “keep-fit mission”, with the mantra: “Don't be a fatty in your 50s.”

He should have plenty of privacy at Buckingham Palace, where the usual practice of “welcoming tourists at this time of year” has “been halted due to the coronavirus”, says the Evening Standard.

The Queen and Prince Philip are absent too, having taken up residence at Windsor Castle for the duration of the pandemic.