Boris Johnson pulls out of awkward handshake at last minute when he remembers Westminster Abbey ban

Boris Johnson dodged a handshake at the last minute and British singer-songwriter Craig David gave Prince Harry an informal ‘elbow bump’ at Westminster Abbey amid the coronavirus crisis. 

Awkward pictures show the Prime Minister proffering his hand to a religious leader during the annual Commonwealth Service today before sharply pulling it backwards.

Mr Johnson then holds his hands up in a gesture of innocence while his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, and the religious leader appear to chuckle.  

Guests are following general advice that was introduced by the Abbey to its congregation a couple of weeks ago.

Craig David was seen giving Prince Harry an ‘elbow bump’, an informal greeting that avoids the unnecessary touching of hands, at the annual Commonwealth Service

Boris Johnson pictured extending his hand to the religious leader. The hashtag 'StopShakingHands' has been widely used on Twitter amid the coronavirus outbreak

Boris Johnson pictured extending his hand to the religious leader. The hashtag ‘StopShakingHands’ has been widely used on Twitter amid the coronavirus outbreak

The Prime Minister quickly snatches back his hand as he remembers handshakes are advised against at the venue. He was following guidance from Westminster Abbey

The Prime Minister quickly snatches back his hand as he remembers handshakes are advised against at the venue. He was following guidance from Westminster Abbey

Mr Johnson holding up his hands in a gesture of innocence at Westminster Abbey while his fiancee Carrie Symonds (left) and the religious leader (right) appear to chuckle in reponse

Mr Johnson holding up his hands in a gesture of innocence at Westminster Abbey while his fiancee Carrie Symonds (left) and the religious leader (right) appear to chuckle in reponse 

Prince Charles was also seen avoiding handshakes by giving a ‘namaste’ greeting. 

The Prince of Wales declined to shake hands with Baroness Scotland, but instead pressed his palms together and gave a slight bow.  

As members of the Royal Family arrived they were introduced to a line of dignitaries, including Mr Johnson, but no-one shook hands as they greeted each other.

Guests are following general advice that was introduced by the Abbey to its congregation a couple of weeks ago.  

Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, also figured out an alternative way to shake hands at the annual Commonwealth Service, offering another guest an elbow bump instead.

Despite the guidance, Mr Johnson was spotted shaking hands with professional boxer Anthony Joshua at the service.  

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his wife Laura Alvarez also arrived at the Westminster Abbey event, along with Home Secretary Priti Patel and Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg.

It marks Prince Harry and Meghan’s last official outing as senior members of the royal family before they give up their titles at the end of the month as part of their ‘Megxit’ departure deal. 

The procession included Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, clergy, Mr Johnson and the Commonwealth Secretary General, among others. 

A spokeswoman for Westminster Abbey told MailOnline: ‘Westminster Abbey is acutely aware of the risks posed by the spread of Novel Coronavirus.

Despite ducking one handshake and the advice from Westminster Abbey, Mr Johnson can be seen shaking hands with professional boxer Anthony Joshua

Despite ducking one handshake and the advice from Westminster Abbey, Mr Johnson can be seen shaking hands with professional boxer Anthony Joshua 

Prince Charles was spotted declining to shake hands with Baroness Scotland, pressing his palms together and lightly bowing in a 'namaste' greeting instead

Prince Charles was spotted declining to shake hands with Baroness Scotland, pressing his palms together and lightly bowing in a ‘namaste’ greeting instead

Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, seen offering an elbow bump as his alternative to a handshake, while greeting guests at the annual Commonwealth Service

Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, seen offering an elbow bump as his alternative to a handshake, while greeting guests at the annual Commonwealth Service 

Spectators were pictured wearing face masks outside the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey to protect against the spread of coronavirus

Spectators were pictured wearing face masks outside the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey to protect against the spread of coronavirus 

‘In recent weeks we have advised members of our congregations to avoid shaking hands.’

It follows the handshake becoming a taboo greeting among professional workers as employees and clients fear the spread of coronavirus in the workplace.

The hashtag ‘StopShakingHands’ has been widely used on Twitter as the outbreak takes hold and Britons take steps to minimise the chances of catching the illness.

In Germany, even Chancellor Angela Merkel was shunned by her interior minister Horst Seehofer who refused to shake her hand at an event last week. 

Merkel had previously refused to shake the hands of attendees at an event in her own district due to the outbreak. 

One British doctor also claimed she has stopped shaking hands, with new acquaintances and a Google executive revealed how he has spent hours avoiding the greeting in order to stop the virus spreading. 

Public Health England says there are two main routes that can spread the infection with the first being from people who are within two metres of each other inhaling the infection into their lungs.

Its guidance adds: ‘It is also possible that someone may become infected by touching a surface, object or the hand of an infected person that has been contaminated with respiratory secretions and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes (such as touching door knob or shaking hands then touching own face).’