The monarch, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, could announce when they have received the jab in a bid to shore up public support for the inoculation programme, according to newspaper reports.

Public health experts are said to be hopeful that such an announcement could carve out an early lead against the anti-vaxxer movement which could lead to large numbers of people refusing the vaccine due to misinformation.

But Elizabeth II and Philip will ‘wait in line’ during the first wave of injections reserved for older care home residents and their carers, foregoing preferential treatment, according to royal sources cited in a Mail on Sunday report.

Some 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine have been ordered, and are set to become available to the first priority group from December 14.