London, Jun 13 (IANS): Trooping the Colour, the traditional celebration of the UK's Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday, will not take place for the second time during the monarch's 68-year reign.

Normally the events sees the Queen inspect the Horse Guards at Whitehall before being escorted by the Household Cavalry back to Buckingham Palace where she takes a salute before an RAF flypast, the BBC reported on Saturday.

It has only been cancelled once before during the Queen's reign - in 1955 during a national rail strike.

But restrictions during lockdown have prevented the celebration from taking place this year in its regular form.

The monarch, who turned 94 on April 21, spent a quiet birthday this year a adhering to social distancing rules at Windsor Castle in Berkshire with husband of 72 years, Prince Philip, and a reduced househould for their protection.

It was announced last month that the publication of the Queen's Birthday Honours had been delayed until the autumn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April, she had also asked to cancel the traditional gun salutes to mark her birthday for the very first time during her 68-year reign.

Instead, the Queen, is taking two royal salutes at the Windsor castle from the Welsh Guards - under social-distancing rules with no spectators.

The Queen has two birthdays, the day she was born on April 21, and her official birthday in June, which is celebrated with the Trooping the Colour ceremony.