The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
Queen Elizabeth is set to continue her reign as the longest-serving British monarch as she turns 93 this year.
But unlike everyone else in Britain, the Queen marks her birthday on two different days.
If you’re wondering why HRH marks the occasion twice, here’s everything you need to know about her upcoming celebrations.
When is the Queen’s real birthday?
The Queen will be celebrating the anniversary of the day she was born this weekend, on Sunday April 21.
When is the Queen’s official birthday?
She also has a second ‘official’ birthday on the second Saturday in June. This year it will fall on June 8.
Why does she celebrate her birthday twice?
It’s all down to the British weather.
The tradition for celebrating the King or Queen’s birthday twice was brought into practice by George II in 1748.
The King, who was born in November, felt the weather would be too cold and wet at that time of year for his annual birthday parade.
As a result, he combined his birthday event with the annual military parade ‘Trooping the Colour’.
Ever since, British monarchs have celebrated their ‘official’ birthdays in the summer months.
Queen Elizabeth II: The Early Years of Princess Elizabeth
1/22
Princess Elizabeth arriving at the 16th century church at Balcombe, Sussex, for the wedding of Lady May Cambridge and Captain Henry Abel Smith in 1931
PA
2/22
The then the Duke and Duchess of York with their daughter Princess Elizabeth at her christening on May 1, 1926. It was not expected that Elizabeth would become Queen
PA
3/22
Princess Elizabeth waving from the carriage as she drives in London in May 1928
PA
4/22
Princess Elizabeth in the park in 1929
PA
5/22
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York in 1930
PA
6/22
Princess Elizabeth arriving at Olympia for the Royal Tournament in 1930
PA
7/22
Princess Elizabeth and a Highland Regiment drummer, during a visit to Scotland in 1930
PA
8/22
Princess Elizabeth walking bareheaded through the rain to visit the Royal Tournament at Olympia, London in 1932
PA
9/22
Two-year-old Princess Margaret with her sister Princess Elizabeth in 1933
PA
10/22
Princess Elizabeth attends the Exhibition of Disabled Men’s Work in 1933
PA
11/22
Princess Elizabeth (left, later Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret Rose out for a ride with their nanny in their horse-drawn carriage, in 1933.
PA
12/22
Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) on a tricycle in the park in 1933
PA
13/22
The Duke and Duchess of York, with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, at an Abergeldie Castle Fete, when they sold goods in aid of Crathie Church, near Balmoral in 1933
PA
14/22
The Duchess of York, with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, arriving at Olympia for the International Horse show in 1935
PA
15/22
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of York, later King George VI, and bridesmaid to her uncle, the Duke of Gloucester in 1935
PA
16/22
The Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother) arrives by car at the Royal Tournament in London accompanied by her daughters, Princess Elizabeth (r) and Princess Margaret in 1935
PA
17/22
Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) with her eldest daughter on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after the coronation of King George VI in May, 1937
PA
18/22
Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) after she broadcast on Children’s Hour from Buckingham Palace i 1940
PA
19/22
Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) and King George VI with Elizabeth in April 1944, shortly before her 18th birthday
PA
20/22
Elizabeth at the wheel of an Army vehicle when she served during the Second World War in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in January 1945
PA
21/22
The engagement of Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten is announced and the happy young couple are pictured together at Buckingham Palace in 1947
PA
22/22
Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and Lt Philip Mountbatten at Buckingham Palace after their wedding ceremony in 1947
PA
1/22
Princess Elizabeth arriving at the 16th century church at Balcombe, Sussex, for the wedding of Lady May Cambridge and Captain Henry Abel Smith in 1931
PA
2/22
The then the Duke and Duchess of York with their daughter Princess Elizabeth at her christening on May 1, 1926. It was not expected that Elizabeth would become Queen
PA
3/22
Princess Elizabeth waving from the carriage as she drives in London in May 1928
PA
4/22
Princess Elizabeth in the park in 1929
PA
5/22
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York in 1930
PA
6/22
Princess Elizabeth arriving at Olympia for the Royal Tournament in 1930
PA
7/22
Princess Elizabeth and a Highland Regiment drummer, during a visit to Scotland in 1930
PA
8/22
Princess Elizabeth walking bareheaded through the rain to visit the Royal Tournament at Olympia, London in 1932
PA
9/22
Two-year-old Princess Margaret with her sister Princess Elizabeth in 1933
PA
10/22
Princess Elizabeth attends the Exhibition of Disabled Men’s Work in 1933
PA
11/22
Princess Elizabeth (left, later Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret Rose out for a ride with their nanny in their horse-drawn carriage, in 1933.
PA
12/22
Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) on a tricycle in the park in 1933
PA
13/22
The Duke and Duchess of York, with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, at an Abergeldie Castle Fete, when they sold goods in aid of Crathie Church, near Balmoral in 1933
PA
14/22
The Duchess of York, with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, arriving at Olympia for the International Horse show in 1935
PA
15/22
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of York, later King George VI, and bridesmaid to her uncle, the Duke of Gloucester in 1935
PA
16/22
The Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother) arrives by car at the Royal Tournament in London accompanied by her daughters, Princess Elizabeth (r) and Princess Margaret in 1935
PA
17/22
Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) with her eldest daughter on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after the coronation of King George VI in May, 1937
PA
18/22
Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) after she broadcast on Children’s Hour from Buckingham Palace i 1940
PA
19/22
Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) and King George VI with Elizabeth in April 1944, shortly before her 18th birthday
PA
20/22
Elizabeth at the wheel of an Army vehicle when she served during the Second World War in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in January 1945
PA
21/22
The engagement of Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten is announced and the happy young couple are pictured together at Buckingham Palace in 1947
PA
22/22
Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and Lt Philip Mountbatten at Buckingham Palace after their wedding ceremony in 1947
PA
Is the Queen’s official birthday always on the same day?
No – originally the Queen celebrated her official birthday on the second Thursday of June, the same day which her father George VI celebrated his official birthday while he was king.
In 1959, after seven years on the throne, the Queen changed it to the second Saturday for convenience.
How will she be celebrating her birthday this year?
Her ‘official’ birthday in June is typically marked by gun salutes and ‘Trooping the Colour’, a tradition in which the Queen inspects her troops in a military pageantry parade.
She also usually appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with other members of the royal family, making for an iconic annual photo.
This year, the Queen is expected to spend her April birthday privately with close family.
You can join the celebrations at Hyde Park, where The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and The Honourable Artillery Company are expected to fire a 41-round gun salute the day after her birthday at noon.
However Her Majesty is spending her special day, we imagine it will involve a slice of her favourite chocolate cake – which she is reportedly never caught leaving the palace without.
