London - Britain's Queen Elizabeth viewed
a socially-distanced military ceremony at Windsor Castle to mark
her official birthday on Saturday, after the coronavirus
pandemic forced cancellation of the usual large parade of
soldiers through central London.
It was the queen's first official public appearance since
the country went into lockdown in late March.
The 94-year-old queen watched a series of drills by the 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards in the castle's quadrangle, instead of
the Trooping the Colour event that traditionally marks the
occasion.
The queen, who has been living with her 99-year-old husband
Prince Philip at the castle west of London, has issued a number
of rallying messages to the nation in the past three months,
including televised addresses that have been a rarity during her
68-year reign.
Members of the Welsh Guards perform in a ceremony to mark the official birthday of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England. Picture: Toby Melville/Pool via AP
But she had not been seen in public until Saturday, when
dressed in a jade coat and wearing a diamond Welsh Guards
brooch, she observed soldiers adhering to the 2-metre social
distancing rule, and listened to music performed by a Band of
the Household Division.
Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday is being marked with a special ceremony taking care for social distancing by everyone present amid the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: Toby Melville/Pool via AP
Queen Elizabeth II attends a ceremony to mark her official birthday at Windsor Castle. Picture: Toby Melville/Pool via AP
Queen Elizabeth attends a ceremony to mark her official birthday at Windsor Castle. Picture: Paul Edwards/Pool via Reuters
Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace released a new
photograph of the royal couple to celebrate Philip's birthday.
The gun salutes in London that normally celebrate that occasion
were also cancelled.
Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday is being marked with a special ceremony amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Queen celebrates her 94th birthday this year. Picture: Toby Melville/Pool via AP
The queen's actual birthday is April 21, but her birthday is
officially marked in June.
Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 94th birthday this year. Picture: Toby Melville/Pool via Reuters