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Happy 89th Birthday Queen Elizabeth ll
Today marks the queen of England's 89th birthday. Queen Elizabeth II, whose full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor of York, was born April 21, 1926. She became monarch on Feb. 6, 1952, and is today the world's oldest reigning monarch. She still enjoys huge public support.
The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April (today) and her official birthday on a Saturday in June.
Official celebrations to mark Sovereigns' birthday have often been held on a day other than the actual birthday, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer. King Edward VII, for example, was born on 9 November, but his official birthday was marked throughout his reign in May or June when there was a greater likelihood of good weather for the Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour.
The Queen usually spends her actual birthday privately, but the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at midday: a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London. In 2006, Her Majesty celebrated her 80th Birthday in 2006 with a walkabout in the streets outside of Windsor Castle to meet well-wishers.
On her official birthday, Her Majesty is joined by other members of the Royal Family at the spectacular Trooping the Colour parade which moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horseguards’ Parade.
Trooping the Colour.
The Sovereign's birthday is officially celebrated by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour on a Saturday in June.
The tradition of Trooping the Colour: Although The Queen was born on 21 April, it has long been the tradition to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday publicly on a day in the summer, when good weather is more likely.
Trooping the Colour is carried out by fully trained and operational troops from the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, watched by members of the Royal Family, invited guests and members of the public.
This military ceremony dates back to the early eighteenth century or earlier, when the colours (flags) of the battalion were carried (or 'trooped') down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
Since 1748, this parade has also marked the Sovereign's official birthday. From the reign of Edward VII onwards, the Sovereign has taken the salute in person at Trooping the Colour.
During the ceremony, The Queen is greeted by a Royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops.
After the massed bands have performed a musical 'troop', the escorted Regimental Colour is carried down the ranks.
The Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry then march past Her Majesty, and The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, rank past.
The Queen rides in a carriage back to Buckingham Palace at the head of her Guards, before taking the salute at the Palace from a dais. The troops then return to barracks.
Her Majesty then joins other members of the Royal Family on the palace balcony for a fly-past by the Royal Air Force.
The Queen has attended Trooping the Colour every year of her reign, except in 1955 when a national rail strike cancelled the event. View footage of Trooping the Colour 1986
How to watch: The processions can be seen from from the Mall. Events begin at approximately 10.00am, with the fly-past at 1.00pm.
The parade is also broadcast live on the BBC in the UK.
Tickets for seated stands around Horse Guards Parade are allocated by ballot in March. It's too late now for this year but, if you want to attend next year, applications should be made in January or February only to:
Brigade Major HQ Household Division Horse Guards Whitehall London SW1A 2AX
A rehearsal (known as The Colonel's Review) usually takes place a week before the actual Birthday Parade.
Members of the public wishing to watch are advised to stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards (their view may be somewhat obscured by troops in this position) from 9.00am.
Want to learn more about the Queen? Read on for facts about her, compiled from the ibtimes.com website and the Mirror:
The United States has had 12 different presidents since the queen took the throne.
Twelve prime ministers have served under her.
She's answered more than 3.5 million letters. You can write to her at Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom.
Artists have painted about 130 official portraits of her.
She can drive -- she learned in 1945.
She paid for her wedding dress with clothing ration coupons.
The queen has two corgis, Holly and Willow, and two dorgis (Daschund-corgi mix), Candy and Vulcan. She's had more than 30 corgis during her reign.
She sent her first email in 1976. Her first tweet came in 2014.
The queen is fluent in French.
Her 1953 coronation was the first to be televised.
She delivers a Christmas message to her subjects every year. She missed it only once, in 1969.
The queen technically owns the whales and dolphins in the U.K. waters.
She once described 1992 as an "annus horribilis" -- a horrible year that included the Windsor Castle fire and Princess Anne and Mark Phillips' divorce.
U.S. President Barack Obama gave the queen an iPod in 2009, but she first obtained one 2005.
She drinks a cup of tea every day at 7:30 a.m.
Happy Birthday Your Majesty from all at Formby Bubble
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