Queen Elizabeth has requested there be no gun salutes to mark her 94th birthday on Tuesday, as the UK coronavirus death toll jumps to more than 14,000.

For the first time in Her Majesty’s 68-year reign, there will be no gun salutes in the royal parks, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace confirmed on Saturday.

A social media post will mark the special day, but any calls or video calls between the monarch and her family will remain private.

A statement said: ‘Her Majesty was keen that no special measures were put in place to allow gun salutes as she did not feel it appropriate in the current circumstances.’

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The head of the Royal Family has also said government buildings will be exempt from flying flags if it creates an issue.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport have written to government buildings giving advice on flag flying protocol.

In their instructions, they say: ‘In the current circumstances we are not expecting everyone to be able to follow this advice and you should continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines as set out by the Government.’

Trooping the Colour – the Queen’s birthday parade – will also not go ahead in June, it was confirmed at the end of March.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘In line with Government advice, it has been agreed that The Queen’s Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, will not go ahead in its traditional form.

‘A number of other options are being considered, in line with relevant guidance.’

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