The Queen has made a landmark decision and asked for no gun salutes to mark her birthday, believing that they would be ‘inappropriate in the current circumstances’.
Over the weekend, Buckingham Palace stated that Her Majesty didn’t want any special measures to be carried out which involves gun salutes on her 94th birthday on Tuesday April 21.
Gun salutes traditionally take place to mark special occasions for royals, including on birthdays and weddings. They involve blank rounds being fired from guns at Hyde Park and the Tower of London.
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It is believed this is the first time in the Queen’s 68-year reign that her big day won’t involve gun salutes.
The BBC reports that any phone or video calls the Queen has with family on her birthday will be kept private.
The Trooping the Colour parade in June to mark the Queen's official birthday has also already been cancelled.
Sky News reports that government buildings have been given standard advice on flag-flying protocol for the day.
The news came days before Prince Philip made a rare public statement since his retirement from public duties in 2017, to praise NHS workers and caregivers who are working during the pandemic.
In a message released on Monday, the Duke of Edinburgh also thanked those in food production, distribution, refuge collection and postal and delivery services.
‘As we approach World Immunisation Week, I wanted to recognise the vital and urgent work being done by so many to tackle the pandemic; by those in the medical and scientific professions, at universities and research institutions, all united in working to protect us from Covid-19,’ he states in a message published on the royal family’s social media channels.
‘On behalf of those of us who remain safe and at home, I also wanted to thank all key workers who ensure the infrastructure of our life continues; the staff and volunteers working in food production and distribution, those keeping postal and delivery services going, and those ensuring the rubbish continues to be collected.’
Earlier this month, the Queen shared a message about the importance of maintaining the coronavirus lockdown, saying ‘by keeping apart we keep others safe’.
The message followed her televised address to the nation on April 5 in which she stressed we would overcome the virus, and told individuals: ‘We will meet again.’
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
