The Royal Family Is Canceling One of Their Most Significant Events of the Year
The coronavirus crisis has caused the British royal family to reevaluate exactly what their role is in society. Given that most of their typical duties (think: shaking hands, commemorating the opening of buildings, and visiting charities) are impossible to perform under current social distancing recommendations, they've had to innovate: giving interviews and checking in with the causes they support via video calls, virtually opening hospitals, and for the Queen, reassuring the nation through an historic broadcast.
But even as the royals find new ways to connect with the public, some of their largest, most significant events of the year have been canceled. Trooping the Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, will not go on as planned this year; neither will the British monarch's annual garden parties.
And just today, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Order of the Garter service in Windsor has also been redlined.
Garter Day, a ceremony which was established by King Edward III almost 700 years ago, honors the Order of the Garter, the "oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain."
Members of the order include the Queen, senior royals like Princes William, Charles, Andrew, and Edward, and Princess Anne; royals from other nations such as Queen Magrethe of Denmark and King Herald V of Norway; and the other knights, both men and women recognized for their public service. (See a full list of current members here.)
The Palace's statement reads:
"For practical reasons in the current circumstances all investitures due to be held at Buckingham Palace in June have been postponed. The annual Garter service at Windsor Castle has been cancelled.
Events of this nature often involve considerable planning for attendees. Mindful of current government advice, we have taken this decision to eliminate any uncertainty for guests due to attend."
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