Queen cancels gun salutes to mark her birthday for first time in 68 years because of coronavirus lockdown
THE Queen has today cancelled her birthday tradition of gun salutes for the first time in 68 years amid the coronavirus lockdown.
The monarch will celebrate her 94th birthday on Tuesday next week - an event normally marked with pomp and ceremony.
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But a Palace source said: "Her Majesty was keen that no special measures were put in place to allow gun salutes as she did not feel it appropriate in the current circumstances."
They added that all of the changes are "in line with Her Majesty’s wishes."
The Department for Culture Media and Sport has also written to government authorities regarding flag flying protocol amid the coronavirus guidelines - with the Union flag usually flown to mark Her Majesty's birthday.
They said: "In the current circumstances we are not expecting everyone to be able to follow this advice and you should continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines as set out by the Government."
The Queen is currently at Windsor Castle self-isolating with husband Prince Philip, 98 and they will remain there for the foreseeable.
Her birthday is expected to be marked instead with a social media post.
However it was claimed any calls or video calls with her family will be in private.
The announcement comes after Trooping the Colour, normally held in June, was cancelled for the first time in 65 years.
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The members of the Royal Family are currently living apart, with the Queen at Windsor while Charles, 71, is in Scotland with wife Camilla.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are at their Norfolk home while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are in LA.
And, William and Kate revealed "stressful" concerns for the Queen and Prince Charles.
William, 38, also spoke of his fears for Charles’s mental health after he came down with coronavirus last month and had to self-isolate.
He said: “I was a little bit worried, but my father has had many chest infections, colds and things like that over the years, and so I thought to myself, if anybody’s going to be able to beat this it is going to be him.
“And actually, he was very lucky he had mild symptoms. I think the hardest thing he found was having to stop and not be able to go and get a bit of fresh air and go for a walk. He’s a mad walker.He loves his walking.
“So I think he found it quite difficult, especially also, I think, with his mental health.”
Wills added: “We are doing everything we can to make sure they are isolated, away and protected. But it does worry me.”
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The Cambridges have been homeschooling their three kids at Anmer Hall, Norfolk, but contacting family online, they said.
In the TV interview, Kate added: “Don’t tell the children, we’ve actually kept it going through the holidays. I feel very mean.”
A source close to Prince Charles said: “He missed being able to get outside and found it all a bit frustrating but he is very happy to be out and about once more.”
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