Today marks Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday, where her subjects in the Commonwealth celebrate her. During the reign of a male monarch, it would of course be King’s Birthday. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest serving British monarch, having turned 90 on April 21.
The sovereign’s birthday was first officially marked in the United Kingdom in 1748, for King George II. The date of the celebration today varies throughout the Commonwealth, but it generally set from the end of May to start of June, to coincide with a high probability of fine weather in the Northern Hemisphere for outdoor ceremonies, rather than with the monarch’s actual birthday.
Most Commonwealth realms release a Queen’s Birthday Honours list at this time.
The video below is a long one, from her 90th birthday celebrations last month, but if you are a dyed-in-the-wool royalist, make a large pot of tea and enjoy!
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