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London / Windsor (AP) - No cannon shots, no photo for the subjects and probably not even a serenade from the guards: The British Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 95th birthday without a ceremony.
According to the British news agency PA, she will spend the day privately and with a few family members at Windsor Castle.
A photo of the Queen on the occasion on Twitter and other social media was not expected.
Even the traditional birthday serenade of her guards soldiers is likely to be canceled.
In addition to the coronavirus pandemic, the main reason is the death of her husband Prince Philip.
The Queen's husband died on April 9 at the age of 99 and was buried in a funeral service at Windsor Castle.
The Queen had arranged a two-week mourning period for the royals.
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It was initially unclear whether Prince Harry (36) would still spend his grandmother's birthday in Great Britain. He had come from the USA for Prince Philips' funeral. His pregnant wife Duchess Meghan (39) stayed in California with their son Archie (1). It was also unknown whether there was a reconciliation between him and other family members. Harry and Meghan had fallen out with the rest of the royal family. The focus of the dispute are allegations made by the couple in a TV interview about lack of consideration and even racist remarks within the family. Meghan has partly African American roots.
Last year, the Queen had already given up the usual cannon shots for her birthday because of the pandemic. That was "not appropriate," she said. And even in June, when the monarch's birthday is traditionally celebrated with a colorful “Trooping the Color” parade in central London, there will be nothing to see this year. The spectacle, at the end of which the royals actually always present themselves to the cheering crowd on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, was canceled due to the corona. At most there could be a greatly reduced parade in Windsor.
The British, who were last able to admire a celebration with great royal pomp on the 90th birthday of their queen in 2016, will have to wait a little longer before they can celebrate their queen again.
Her 70th anniversary of the throne is coming up next year.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210421-99-285533 / 4