The King and Queen of Sweden have cancelled a formal dinner amid coronavirus fears.

King Carl XVI Gustaf, 73, and Queen Silvia, 76, were due to host 150 guests at the Official Government dinner Royal Palace, in Stockholm, tomorrow night.

However the couple announced yesterday that the event has been cancelled after a 24 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in recent days.

King Carl XVI Gustaf, 73, and Queen Silvia, 76, were due to host 150 guests at the stunning Royal Palace, in Stockholm, tomorrow night but cancelled amid coronavirus fears. Pictured, the couple (centre) with l-r: daughter-in-law Princess Sofia, son Prince Carl Phillip, daughter Crown Princess Victoria and son-in-law Daniel at an event at the Royal Palace in March 2019

The risk of a widespread outbreak int the country also rose from 'low' to 'moderate'.

It is thought other members of the Swedish royal family, including their children Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Carl Phillip, were due to attend, as well as senior members of the Swedish government.

It comes as the number of COVID-19 cases in the UK jumped overnight to 51.

In a statement released yesterday, the Swedish royal court said: 'In recent days, a number of cases of infection from the novel coronavirus have been detected in Sweden.

'The Public Health Authority considers the risk of detecting cases of covid-19 in Sweden to be high, but the risk of the infection spreading is considered low.

King Carl XVI Gustaf, 73, and Queen Silvia, 76, pictured last month, announced yesterday that the event has been cancelled after a 24 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in recent days

'Awaiting further development of events, Their Majesties, as hosts, choose to postpone the Official Dinner that was planned to be held at the Royal Palace on Wednesday, 4 March. This is done out of consideration for the invited guests.'

Sweden's Public Health Agency said it now sees the risk of imported cases and of Swedish citizens being infected abroad as 'very high', up from the previous assessment of 'high'.

'In particular the situation in Italy means that we now expect that Swedish citizens will be infected, and also come to Sweden with the infection,' agency head Johan Carlson said.

The total number of coronavirus cases increased from 14 at the time the statement was made on Monday to 24 today, according to The Local.