Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled a gun salute for her birthday because she does not think it is appropriate during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Queen, who turns 94 on Tuesday, has decided not to publicly mark the occasion in any special way, including the artillery salute she traditionally gets on her birthday.

It will be the first time in her 68-year reign the gun salute in London's Hyde Park and Tower will be silent.

The Department of Culture has also advised that the normal practice of flying flags on government buildings will not be necessary, the BBC reported.

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June's Trooping the Colour parade, which marks the Queen's official birthday, has already been cancelled.

"Her Majesty was keen that no special measures were put in place to allow gun salutes as she did not feel it appropriate in the current circumstances," a Buckingham Palace official said in a statement.

The Queen urged people to closely follow social distancing measures in her address to the Commonwealth last week. ( AP: Kirsty Wigglesworth )

She has also planned to keep private any phone and video calls with her family.

The Queen has previously stressed the importance of lockdown measures, saying in her Easter message that "by keeping apart we keep others safe".

Buckingham Palace's announcement comes as British authorities reported 888 more coronavirus-related hospital deaths on Saturday (local time), taking the toll to 15,464.

While it was 41 higher than the previous day's toll, it is lower than the United Kingdom's record high of 980 a week ago.

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