Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her birthday in private for the first time since becoming monarch 68 years ago due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Queen will ring in her 94th year at Windsor Castle, where she is isolating with Prince Philip.

Typically, the occasion is marked by special gun salutes at royal parks in London and elsewhere in the U.K.

However, the Queen cancelled the celebration because she felt it would be inappropriate as the COVID-19 crisis rages on, a source told CNN.

The official celebration of the Queen’s birthday in June — an event known as trooping the Colour — has also been cancelled. There are no current plans for any alternative celebrations at this time.

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It’s believed the Queen will be contacted by her children and grandchildren via phone and video call, although any conversations will remain private, according to CNN.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Prince William and Kate Middleton said the Royal Family is using technology to stay connected during this time — but it’s not without technical difficulties.

“It gets a bit hectic, I’m not going to lie — with a two-year-old you have to take the phone away,” Middleton said.

“It’s quite hectic for them all to say the right thing at the right time without pressing the wrong buttons… but it’s great and it’s nice to keep in touch with everybody.”

Prince William and Middleton were among the first royals to wish the Queen a happy birthday via social media on Tuesday.

The pair posted a sweet photo with the matriarch to their Instagram account.

globalnews