ComScore

Westminster Abbey Will No Longer Ring Its Bells for the Birthdays of *These* Royal Family Members

royal family 41

Sorry, Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker Bowles. Looks like the Westminster Abbey bells will no longer ring to mark the duchesses’ birthdays. And they’re not the only ones. 

If you didn’t know, it’s tradition for the historic bells to be rung on the birthdays of senior members of the royal family—Prince William, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Middleton, etc. However, according to Hello! Magazine, the bells now have a new schedule to follow, beginning at the start of 2022. 

Per the outlet, at the start of the new year, the Abbey bells will only carry on the tradition to mark the birthdays of Her Majesty and her son, the Prince of Wales. 

“The Abbey bells can be heard ringing out before services and in celebration of church festivals,” a representative for the royal family told the mag. “The bells have also traditionally been rung to mark the birthdays of senior members of the Royal Family. Due to the financial challenges posed to the Abbey by the Covid-19 pandemic, and in consultation with Buckingham Palace, the bells will now ring only for the birthdays of HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales.”

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall won’t be the only royals affected by this change. Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will also no longer receive the honor. 

Prince Charles will receive the first bell ringing in 20 months (due to the coronavirus pandemic) for his upcoming 73rd birthday on November 14. But these two birthdays aren’t the only times citizens can hear the bells. They also plays a role in royal weddings as well as when a member of the family passes away. 

London just got a whole lot quieter. 

Stay up-to-date on every breaking royals story by subscribing here.