Queen Elizabeth has canceled these royal events for 2021
- by Leland Aguilar
- in Entertaiment
- — Jan 8, 2021
The parties require a lot of advance planning - and deadlines are approaching for committing to dates and contract details - which would be hard given ongoing pandemic precautions and the rapid-fire changes made by the government in recent days. Buckingham Palace made the announcement today.
The severe move was made as a result of the difficulties faced by aides in trying to party plan while new coronavirus rules and lockdowns are coming and more might be expected.
The queen, 94, and her husband, Prince Philip, 99, have been isolating mostly in Windsor Castle 25 miles west of London since March, when she was forced by the pandemic to cancel the 2020 garden parties. One such event was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in 2006.
A cyclist rides on the empty Mall with Buckingham Palace in the background in London today
They are also a means to thank members of the military and diplomatic communities. "The decision has been taken that garden parties will not take place in 2021", a palace spokesperson was quoted as saying.
The Queen usually welcomes more than 30,000 guests to enjoy a lovely summer afternoon in the handsome gardens of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The Queen normally "welcomes over 30,000 guests to spend a relaxed summer afternoon in the lovely gardens of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse", the royal family's website states. A network of sponsors is used to invite guests. The queen's last celebration, which took place in 2019, included royal family members Prince Harry and his cousins Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. The annual events also allow members of the public the rare opportunity to mingle alongside members of the royal family.
