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The Queen’s birthday will not be marked with a traditional gun salute due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday 21 April, Queen Elizabeth II will turn 94 years old.
It is customary for the monarch’s birthday to be commemorated with a royal gun salute.
However this year, given the impact the Covid-19 outbreak is having across the globe, the monarch is said to have decided against the tradition.
A Buckingham Palace source informed The Independent that the Queen did not want any special measures to be taken to allow a gun salute to be held as she did not feel it was appropriate at the present time.
It is believed this is the first time in the Queen’s 68-year reign that her birthday will not be marked with a gun salute.
In a statement sent to The Independent, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed that “following consultation with key stakeholders, ceremonial gunfire from all saluting stations is temporarily suspended due to national Covid-19 restrictions”.
“The will last at least four weeks [until 18 May] and will be regularly reviewed,” MOD stated.
In addition to the Queen’s birthday not being celebrated in any special way, it is reported that any calls between the monarch and her family on her birthday will remain private.
On 27 March, the Palace released a statement saying that “in line with Government advice, it has been agreed that the Queen’s Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, will not go ahead in its traditional form.”
“A number of other options are being considered, in line with relevant guidance,” the statement added.
Created with Sketch.
Created with Sketch.
1/32
People clap from a block of flats opposite St Thomas' Hospital in London. Briton's were encouraged to clap for carers at 8pm local time to celebrate employees of the NHS
EPA
2/32
Staff outside the St James's University Hospital in Leeds, wave to people applauding them from their balconies
PA
3/32
A sign by Wembley Park Tube Station in London that thanks the hardworking NHS staff
PA
4/32
Barbara Leigh, aged 93, (second left) rings a bell for the NHS, with her family who are all staying together throughout the lockdown, from their front garden across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester
Getty
5/32
NHS staff respond as people in Blackpool join in the national applause
PA
6/32
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak applaud outside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
7/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
8/32
Tyne Bridge lit up in blue to support the NHS
Reuters
9/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud
Getty
10/32
Princes George (right), Louis (centre) and Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/PA
11/32
People in Woodford Green, London, join in a national applause
PA
12/32
People in flats wave the Scottish flag in Glasgow as they join in a national applause for the NHS
PA
13/32
Ventura', a Grand-class cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet, docked at Southampton Docks shows its support for the NHS by lighting up rooms on the cruise ship to spell '#I LOVE NHS'
Getty Images
14/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
15/32
The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
16/32
Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow
Getty Images
17/32
Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
18/32
Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
19/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS
Getty
20/32
People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus
Reuters
21/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
22/32
A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS
PA
23/32
The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS
Reuters
24/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
25/32
NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
26/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
27/32
Redcar Pier lit up in blue
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council/PA
28/32
Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales joining in the national applause for the NHS workers battling coronavirus, coupled with photos from previous visits to NHS facilities
Instagram/clarencehouse/PA
29/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
30/32
A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme
Reuters
31/32
People applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, EnfieldPeople applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Enfield
Reuters
32/32
People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
1/32
People clap from a block of flats opposite St Thomas' Hospital in London. Briton's were encouraged to clap for carers at 8pm local time to celebrate employees of the NHS
EPA
2/32
Staff outside the St James's University Hospital in Leeds, wave to people applauding them from their balconies
PA
3/32
A sign by Wembley Park Tube Station in London that thanks the hardworking NHS staff
PA
4/32
Barbara Leigh, aged 93, (second left) rings a bell for the NHS, with her family who are all staying together throughout the lockdown, from their front garden across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester
Getty
5/32
NHS staff respond as people in Blackpool join in the national applause
PA
6/32
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak applaud outside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
7/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
8/32
Tyne Bridge lit up in blue to support the NHS
Reuters
9/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud
Getty
10/32
Princes George (right), Louis (centre) and Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/PA
11/32
People in Woodford Green, London, join in a national applause
PA
12/32
People in flats wave the Scottish flag in Glasgow as they join in a national applause for the NHS
PA
13/32
Ventura', a Grand-class cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet, docked at Southampton Docks shows its support for the NHS by lighting up rooms on the cruise ship to spell '#I LOVE NHS'
Getty Images
14/32
Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause
PA
15/32
The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
16/32
Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow
Getty Images
17/32
Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff
PA
18/32
Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
19/32
Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS
Getty
20/32
People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus
Reuters
21/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
22/32
A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS
PA
23/32
The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS
Reuters
24/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
25/32
NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
26/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
27/32
Redcar Pier lit up in blue
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council/PA
28/32
Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales joining in the national applause for the NHS workers battling coronavirus, coupled with photos from previous visits to NHS facilities
Instagram/clarencehouse/PA
29/32
People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital
Getty
30/32
A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme
Reuters
31/32
People applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, EnfieldPeople applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Enfield
Reuters
32/32
People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Reuters
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who is married to the Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward, has been helping to prepare food and care parcels for NHS workers at her local hospital.
The official Instagram account for the royal family shared photographs of the countess preparing the packages for healthcare staff at Frimley Park hospital in Surrey.
Princess Sofia of Sweden is currently working in one of the country’s hospitals as a healthcare assistant.
The royal is helping staff on the frontline at the Sophiahemmet hospital after completing a three-day medical course at Sophiahemmet University College, where she is an honorary chair member.