A group of representatives from Bradford’s different religions, most of whom had themselves been honoured by the Queen, gathered to cut a birthday cake in recognition of Her Majesty.
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“When the queen became the longest reigning monarch in British history last September, she didn’t want to make a fuss as she was concerned that milestone was reached because of the loss of her father”, said Victoria Arbiter, royal commentator and author of “Queen Elizabeth II”. Her second public appearance of the day was no different, as the monarch was met by the sound of rapturous cheers and applause.
Four dog coats were given to the Queen as a birthday present by the Mayor of the Royal Borough on behalf of the council.
Martha Collinson who made it to the semi-final of the Great British Bake Off in 2014 was asked to make cakes for the 90-year-olds who were meeting the Queen.
At an age where most people are enjoying retirement, the queen is still punching the clock. They were shot at Windsor Castle, where she will host US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on Friday. “And I think everybody should respect her for all the years that she’s given for her country”, said Donna Werner, an American tourist from New Fairfield, Connecticut.
Prime Minister David Cameron is due to lead political tributes in a “humble address” in parliament, an occasion which could prove awkward for opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, an ardent republican.
Other tributes rolled in.
Prince Charles, the queen’s son and heir, recorded a special radio broadcast of an edited passage from William Shakespeare’s “Henry VIII”.
This year there will also be a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral and a huge street party in the Mall outside Buckingham Palace for members of charities the queen supports. One shows the queen surrounded by seven young grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including 11-month-old Princess Charlotte, whom she holds in her arms.
At dusk, the British Parliament building will be lit up in the red, white and blue of the Union Jack.
The Queen was attending a beacon lighting ceremony, also in Windsor.
Judy Daley, 50, left her hometown of Cardiff at 3 a.m.to join in the celebrations. “It is entirely typical that she is still fulfilling a hectic schedule of duties this week as, throughout her reign, she has been the embodiment of public service and duty”.
And locals turned out, too.
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As a sometime resident of Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth has strong connections to East Anglia – her grandson, Prince William, saves lives with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, and Her Majesty has made many visits to Suffolk and Essex during her reign. “And having lost my mother at a young age, it’s been particularly important to me that I’ve had somebody like the Queen to look up to and who’s been there and who has understood some of the more, um, complex issues when you lose a loved one”.
