Queen Elizabeth’s Annual Birthday Celebration Will Not Go On as Planned
By Correspondent
Once again, Queen Elizabeth’s public birthday celebration, Trooping the Colour, will be scaled back because of the coronavirus pandemic. Buckingham Palace confirmed the news today in a statement, which reads:
“Following consultation with Government and other relevant parties it has been agreed that The Queen’s Official Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, will not go ahead this year in its traditional form in central London. Options for an alternative Parade, in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle, are being considered.”
The statement also confirms that the annual Garter service, which usually takes place in June, “will not take place this year.”
The Queen’s actual birthday is in April, but Trooping the Colour is her “official,” public celebration. The tradition of monarchs celebrating their birthday twice dates all the way back to King George II in 1748, who combined an annual summer military march with his birthday celebration, even though he was born in October. Ever since, the reigning monarch has had the option of having an official birthday in the summertime.
The annual event is traditionally marked with large crowds lining the streets of London, a military demonstration, carriage procession, and finally, it ends with the entire extended royal family up on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
But last year’s ceremony was scaled down to a smaller, more socially distanced event at Windsor Castle. It’s likely that this year’s event will look quite similar, though details are “still being considered.”
What is Trooping the Colour?
After existing in various forms since the 17th century, the Trooping the Colour ceremony has been held every year in London to mark the sovereign’s official birthday since the accession of King George IV in 1820, except during the world wars and a national strike in 1955.
Although the sovereign’s official birthday is celebrated in June, Queen Elizabeth II’s actual birthday is on 21 April. Monarchs are traditionally given a second birthday if they were not born in the summer, in case the British weather is unsuitable for an outdoor event!