Britain’s Queen Elizabeth celebrates 94th birthday in lockdown in Windsor Castle
- The British monarch felt it was inappropriate to have the customary ceremonial gun salutes due to the Covid-19 lockdown
- She sent her condolences to the families of the victims of Canada’s worst mass shooting
Elizabeth, the world’s eldest and longest-reigning monarch, typically spends her birthday privately without much public celebration but this year the event will be even more muted.
“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,” the Buckingham Palace said.
The latest official figures show that about 16,000 Britons infected with the new coronavirus have died in hospital, the fifth highest number globally. The nation is in its fourth week of lockdown, with most businesses closed and citizens ordered to stay at home.
Flags are usually flown on government buildings to mark the queen’s birthday but officials have been told that this year not everyone would be expected to arrange for that to happen.
The only official acknowledgement from the royal family came via Twitter where Buckingham Palace posted a private family film of Elizabeth as a child, playing with her late younger sister Margaret.
“Head of the Commonwealth, Head of the Armed Forces, Head of State in 16 countries and the longest reigning Monarch in British History. Wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Happy birthday, Your Majesty!” the message said.
“Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a very Happy 94th Birthday,” her son and heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla posted on Twitter alongside a selection of photographs of his mother through the decades.
From there, she has issued a number of rallying messages to the nation, including only the fifth televised address of her 68-year reign.
On Tuesday, the monarch sent her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the after the “appalling” mass shooting in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, in which 19 were killed.
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“Prince Philip and I have been deeply saddened by the appalling events in Nova Scotia, and we send our condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who have lost their lives,” said Elizabeth, who is Queen of Canada and its head of state.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Nova Scotia and all Canadians at this tragic time.”
Elizabeth praised the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and emergency services which she said had “selflessly responded to these devastating attacks”.
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On Monday Philip made a statement, a rare event since he retired from public life three years ago, to thank those involved in the response to the coronavirus crisis.
Elizabeth, who was born on April 21, 1926, in Bruton Street, central London, grew up not expecting to become queen. Her father, George VI, only took the crown when his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952 at the age of 25, and surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria as Britain’s longest reigning monarch in September 2015.
“Inevitably a long life can pass by many milestones,” she said at the time.
Buckingham Palace last month said a parade to celebrate the queen’s official birthday, which usually takes place in June, would not go ahead in its traditional form in light of restrictions on social gatherings.
