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 | Yorkshire Times A Voice of the Free Press |
Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
4:00 AM 21st April 2021
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How Will Her Majesty The Queen Celebrate Her 95th Birthday?
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the top of the Coyles of Muick, Scotland in 2003 - photograph by the Countess of Wessex
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the passing of Prince Philip, the Queen’s beloved and devoted husband of 73 years and the official mourning period continuing until Friday, how will she celebrate her 95th birthday?
It will certainly be a scaled down affair with possibly only a few of her family members, who came together at the weekend to celebrate and honour the life of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away on 9 April age 99.
It is not sure whether Harry will stay for his Grandmother’s birthday or fly back to be with Megan who is heavily pregnant.
For a second year in a row the traditional royal gun salutes at Hyde Park and the Tower of London have been cancelled.
It has also been announced that the queen’s official birthday celebrations in June have also been cancelled, so the traditional Trooping the Colour will not go ahead again for the second year.
Why does the Queen have two birthdays?
The tradition dates back to the 1700s when George II decided that as his birthday was in November and the weather in the UK would no doubt be too cold then, he would have the Trooping the Colour parade in June.
So George II decided to hold two celebrations: the annual military parade (Trooping the Colour) in June and his actual birthday he would celebrate in private in November.
The Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the monarch for over 250 years. So our present Queen celebrates her actual birthday in April and the official event in June.
The Queen celebrates her 95th birthday this year as she was born in 1926.
Other celebrations this week
Prince Louis, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s youngest son will be three on Friday 23 April.
The following week William and Kate will have been married for 10 years on 29 April.
State Opening of Parliament
It is reported that the Queen will attend the state of opening of parliament on 11 May and will possibly be accompanied by the Prince of Wales.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II made this statement in a speech on her twenty-first birthday:
"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service."
"I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service."
Happy Birthday Your Majesty!