Skip to main content

Queen Elizabeth's 94th birthday celebrated with social distancing


By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Queen Elizabeth II, who turned 94 this April, didn’t celebrate it with traditional trooping or the colourful parade. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the queen preferred to celebrate her birthday with a scaled-down, socially distanced ceremony at Windsor Castle. 

On the morning of June 13, the queen watched a performance by a small number of Welsh guardsmen and the band of the Household Division in what was called a mini-trooping. 

The queen had turned 94 back on April 21 but traditionally the second Saturday in June has always been marked her official birthday celebration.

Normally surrounded by family, the queen watched the ceremony alone, flanked by just a few officials, CBS News reported. 

"More spacing between individuals meant that there is also no room for errors and so the soldier has to really concentrate on their own personal drill, reaction to orders, dressing and social distancing," Garrison Seargent Major Warrant Officer Class 1, Andrew Stokes, told BBC News. 

The traditional trooping the colour in London was cancelled due to the pandemic, marking only the second time during the queen's 68-year reign that the parade has not been held. The last time the event was cancelled was in 1995, just three years after the queen's coronation, due to a national rail strike.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KDSP: Empowering Individuals with Down Syndrome in Karachi

The Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), a beacon of hope and support, is making significant strides in empowering individuals with Down syndrome in the city. Founded in March 2014 by a group of passionate parents and individuals, KDSP addresses the critical need for comprehensive resources and platforms for those with Down syndrome in Karachi. Bridging the Gap: A Mission of Advocacy and Inclusion KDSP operates as a non-profit organization with a clear mission: to advocate for the value, acceptance, and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome. Recognizing the limited support and resources available locally, KDSP was established to provide a nurturing environment where individuals with Down syndrome can lead independent and fulfilling lives. A Lifelong Journey of Support Understanding the unique needs of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, KDSP offers unwavering support from the moment a family receives a diagnosis.  They embark on a journey with each family, pro...
Post a Comment
Read more

China’s top advisory body meets

By Masood Sattar Khan (Pakistan News & Features Services) The third annual session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened on May 21, after being delayed for more than two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much is expected of this year's session of China's top political advisers as the country's goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects is expected to be realized by the end of this year, which is also the final year of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).  The CPPCC National Committee gathers the country's smartest minds from different walks of life.  Their ideas have contributed a great deal to what this country has achieved in its endeavors in poverty alleviation, in making progress in all fields for the realization of the goal of building China into a moderately prosperous country in all aspects. And so have their inputs into the fight against the novel co...
Post a Comment
Read more

KPT celebrates Arfa Karim Day with great enthusiasm

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi (Pakistan News & Features Services) On the occasion of  the second death anniversary of the youngest Microsoft expert and the Pakistani icon, Arfa Karim, the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) organized a harbour cruise for students alongwith Mrs Samina Amjad, mother of late Arfa. Speaking on the occasion, Samina Amjad highlighted the goals set forth by the Arfa Karim Foundation and said that her daughter wanted to bring about a revolution in the field of education using IT as a tool, for imparting quality education to under privileged students particularly in rural areas of Pakistan. This, she pointed out, was even shared by Arfa with international and national media interactions as her daughter has always dreamt big in her short life.  The Arfa Karim Foundation is striving hard to preserve her complete legacy and moving forward to persue her dreams, Samina told the gathering adding that with this objective in v...
Post a Comment
Read more