The Queen has cancelled all royal garden parties in London and Edinburgh for the whole of this year, 2021, amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Buckingham Palace said the decision was taken after royal officials faced difficulties planning the events amid new coronavirus rules and new lockdowns being announced recently.

The garden parties are a way of honoring and thanking members of the public who have gone above and beyond in serving charities and their local communities.

They are also a means to thank members of the military and diplomatic communities. There are normally four parties each year, held in the summer.

Three events are normally held at Buckingham Palace in London and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh with more than 30,000 guests in attendance.

The Palace gates are open from 3pm, and the party officially begins at 4 pm when the Queen and other members of the Royal Family enter the garden.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Tuesday: ‘The decision has been taken that garden parties will not take place in 2021.’