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Buckingham Palace to scale back Queen Elizabeth's birthday parade

FILE PHOTO: Royal visit to MI5

LONDON (Reuters) - A parade to celebrate the official birthday of Britain's Queen Elizabeth will not go ahead in its traditional form in light of restrictions on social gatherings due to the rapid spread of coronavirus, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.

The large parade of soldiers through central London, known as Trooping the Colour, is scheduled for Saturday June 13. The Queen's actual birthday is April 21.

"In line with Government advice, it has been agreed that The Queen's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, will not go ahead in its traditional form," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

"A number of other options are being considered, in line with relevant guidance."

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton, writing by Alistair Smout, editing by Estelle Shirbon)