Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace in central London to view the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade as the Queen celebrates her official birthday, Saturday Jun…
Advertisement
Acting High Commissioner for Dominica Janet Charles revealed that Harry said the Queen should be taking it easy – but that she wanted to attend the service of thanksgiving for the public.
On the parade ground in their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins were the Coldstream, Grenadier and Scots Guards – while the Irish Guards lined the Queen’s processional route from Buckingham Palace.
Born in 1926, the Queen has ruled since 1952, when she was 25 years old.
Another soldier also collapsed during Trooping the Colour rehearsals last month, while guardsman have previously collapsed during the main events over the previous few years.
Staged on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall – Henry VIII’s former jousting yard – Trooping the Colour is one of the great state and social occasions and will feature nearly 1,500 soldiers and officers on parade and 300 horses.
Other senior royals are also expected to travel by carriage along the parade route.
Several Indian-origin doctors, charity workers, musicians and entrepreneurs were among hundreds of people honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in her annual Birthday Honours list issued on Saturday.
On April 21, Queen Elizabeth II reached an incredible landmark: Her Majesty turned 90 years old.
Pubs across the United Kingdom are being allowed to stay open much later this weekend, having had their opening hours officially extended by the Government because of the Queen’s birthday.
After Trooping the Colour, members of the royal family appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a military fly-past, including Prince William and Kate with their children George and Charlotte.
Up until the 1980s, the Queen even rode in the parade on horseback.
Among the audience of thousands watching the spectacle was Second World War veteran Fergus Anckorn, 97, whose story was the focus of the Richard Jones’ magic trick which earned him the Britain’s Got Talent title.
Later, the royal couple will lead the family onto the palace balcony to wave to the throngs as Royal Air Force jets fly overhead.
Looking radiant in yellow, she was escorted by the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, who was celebrating his 95th birthday.
Advertisement
On Sunday, 10,000 people will join her at The Patron’s Lunch on The Mall and street parties will be held up and down the country.
