Queen Elizabeth often celebrates her birthday on April 21 privately. This year, however, she will have an even quieter birthday commemoration as she isolates for the fourth week in Windsor with Prince Philip due to the coronavirus lockdown.
According to Reuters, the Queen's 94th birthday will be without any fuss. The Union Jack flag, which is usually flown at government buildings when there's a royal celebrating a birthday, will not even likely be set up. The Queen is apparently not expecting that this will be arranged in some buildings considering the orders for all residents to stay-at-home.
The Queen also canceled the traditional gun salutes across London to mark the day she was born. The monarch felt that these traditional celebrations would be inappropriate amid the pandemic.
The United Kingdom has over 16,000 cases of coronavirus deaths as of the latest data. It has the fifth highest number of COVID-19 casualties around the world.
As a result, the U.K. government is still keeping most business and establishments closed, except for essential services. The stay-at-home orders will remain in place until the middle of May.
But the Queen will likely connect with the royal family via the digital platform Zoom. Sources from inside Buckingham Palace said that they there will be a virtual party for Her Majesty as this is how the royals have been keeping in touch since the lockdown.
Prince William and Kate recently revealed in an in interview that they have been calling family members via video conferencing. The kids -- Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis -- have been chatting up their grandparents and other relatives online.
"[Prince Charles] and my parents and our families and things like that have really loved keeping in touch with the children because it's really hard," Kate said. "So, we have been making sure we share in on birthday calls and things like that."
Queen Elizabeth is expected to remain at Windsor Castle until the end of May. However, it's still unclear if she will move to Balmoral for her annual summer tradition. Every year, the Queen and the royal family visit their summer home in the Scotland estate but since travel would be risky for the 94-year-old monarch and her 98-year-old husband, they might opt to stay isolated where they currently are.
Coronavirus is deadlier for those above 70 years old and those with medical conditions. Prince William said that they have been trying very hard to protect his grandparents from contracting the virus.
