Queen CANCELS all garden parties in 2021 after surge in coronavirus cases made planning impossible
The Queen has cancelled all royal garden parties in London and Edinburgh for the whole of this year, Buckingham Palace announced today.
The decision was taken after royal officials faced difficulties planning the events amid new coronavirus rules and lockdowns being announced in recent days.
With deadlines approaching for committing to their go-ahead, it wasn’t possible to plan how they would be feasible taking into account Covid-19 precautions.
A cyclist rides on the empty Mall with Buckingham Palace in the background in London today
Garden parties are a way of honouring and thanking members of the public who have gone above and beyond in serving charities and their local communities.
They are also a means to thank members of the military and diplomatic communities. There are normally four of the events each year.
More to follow