Queen's 95th birthday will not feature traditional gun salute in mark of respect for Prince Philip

The tradition will be cancelled for the second year in a row, following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh

Members of the British royal family and military officials follow Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh's coffin during his funeral at Windsor Castle, England. Getty

Pallbearers carry Prince Philip's coffin into the chapel with only 30 guests in attendance because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions. AFP

People walking at Windsor Castle after Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday. AP

Queen Elizabeth II during the funeral of her husband. They married on 20 November 1947 and he served as Prince Consort until his death on April 9, months short of his 100th birthday. Getty

Members of the public take part in a two-minute silence outside Windsor Castle during the funeral of Prince Philip. Getty

Members of the Household Cavalry march ahead of the funeral service of Prince Philip in Windsor Castle. Getty

Coronavirus restrictions meant social distancing. Getty.

Prince Philip's coffin is carried into his funeral service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Getty

Queen Elizabeth watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. AP

Left to right: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; Viscount Severn; and Sophie, Countess of Wessex attend the funeral service of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh inside St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. AFP

Pallbearers carry the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99. AP

A gun salute at Edinburgh Castle. A single round was fired followed by a single round a minute later to begin and end a national minute's silence immediately before the funeral service of Britain's Prince Philip. Reuters

From second left: Peter Phillips; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Anne, Princess Royal, attend the ceremonial funeral procession of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. AFP

Princess Beatrice of York and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi attend the funeral ceremony of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle. AFP

Princess Eugenie of York and her husband Jack Brooksbank attend the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. AFP

Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 95th birthday on Wednesday, her first in more than 70 years without her husband, Prince Philip.

The Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9, and was laid to rest at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on Saturday in a ceremony attended by 30 family members, including the queen, just days ahead of her landmark birthday.

As a mark of respect to Prince Philip, the UK entered an eight-day mourning period, which ended at 8am on Sunday, with flags on government buildings being returned to full mast.

However, the royal family will remain in an official period of mourning until Thursday, after the Queen’s birthday, as a further mark of respect.

As such, the occasion will pass without the official gun salutes, which are traditionally fired to mark the day. The Ministry of Defence said the 41 and 21-gun salutes at Hyde Park and the Tower of London have both been cancelled.

It is the second year in a row that the tradition will not go ahead. In 2020, the salutes did not take place as the UK grappled with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Reports instead suggest the queen will spend a quiet birthday walking her new Corgi puppies, Fergus and Muick, within the grounds of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

It is expected she will also be visited by her sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Queen Elizabeth II’s two birthdays

While Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, that’s not her only official birthday. Being the monarch (sometimes) comes with the privilege of a second birthday.

If the reigning monarch is born in a cooler month of the year, they are able to select a date in June to hold their birthday parade, known as the Trooping of the Colour, which is likely to have better weather.

Because the weather can be unpredictable in April, the Queen’s official birthday celebrations usually take place on the second Saturday in June, when she parades along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace, where she is joined on the balcony by members of her family to watch as a Royal Air Force fly-by takes place.