As the novel coronavirus forced the royal family to clear their schedules, one major event was still on the calendar. But on Friday, Buckingham Palace announced that Trooping the Colour, Queen Elizabeth’s annual birthday parade scheduled for June 13, has officially been cancelled, or at least dramatically altered.
“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 statement read. “A number of other options are being considered, in line with relevant guidance.” The announcement seems to leave room for an alternate celebration of some sort, and this week the royal family has already shown their enthusiasm for carrying out some of their duties through virtual means.
The parade gets its name from the troops, the Household Division, that attend in their formal uniforms. Though the queen was born on April 21, the June parade is the day that she celebrates with the public and with her extended family, who gathers on a balcony in Buckingham Palace’s east wing. Usually around 30 family members gather, but about 40 joined in 2016, when the queen was celebrating her 90th birthday.
The parade first began as a military exercise, but became a celebration for the sovereign in the 18th century. The last time the parade was canceled was 1955, as a result of the national rail strike.
The news comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he has also been diagnosed with coronavirus. For the last two weeks Johnson’s weekly audience with the queen has been conducted via telephone rather than in person. On Tuesday, the palace released a photo of the two communicating. After Prince Charles’s coronavirus diagnosis was announced Wednesday, they released a statement that said the queen is still in good health and that the last time the two saw each other in person was March 12.
According to the Daily Mail on Friday morning, a palace spokesman said, “Her Majesty the Queen remains in good health. The Queen last saw the Prime Minister on the 11th March and is following all the appropriate advice with regards to her welfare.”
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