Queen’s birthday will not be marked by gun salutes ‘for first time’ due to coronavirus pandemic

It is believed this will be the first time a gun salute has not taken place for the monarch’s birthday

Saturday 18 April 2020 16:45

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No gun salutes for Queen’s 94th birthday

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.

Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS

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1/32Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS

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

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Staff outside the St James's University Hospital in Leeds, wave to people applauding them from their balconies

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A sign by Wembley Park Tube Station in London that thanks the hardworking NHS staff

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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

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NHS staff respond as people in Blackpool join in the national applause

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak applaud outside 10 Downing Street

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Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause

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Tyne Bridge lit up in blue to support the NHS

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Residents in a Northampton street applaud

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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

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People in Woodford Green, London, join in a national applause

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People in flats wave the Scottish flag in Glasgow as they join in a national applause for the NHS

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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'

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Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause

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The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff

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Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow

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Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff

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Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

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Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS

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People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus

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People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital

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A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS

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The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS

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People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital

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NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

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People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital

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Redcar Pier lit up in blue

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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

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People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital

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A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme

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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

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People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

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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.

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