Dressed in a lime green coat and matching hat, the 90-year-old Queen took the salute at Horseguards Parade and inspected her guards as she does annually.
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Thousands of tourists and royals fans filled The Mall, stretching back from the iron palace gates, cheering the Queen and her family.
Grandson Prince William, his father Prince Charles and aunt Princess Anne rode horses during the parade, a tradition that originates from preparations for battle, when flags are carried or “trooped” down the rank for soldiers to see.
The Royal Family watched the ceremony unfold from the Duke of Wellington’s old office which overlooks Horse Guards and was directly behind the Queen’s dais where she sat with Philip.
Britain’s heat is being blamed as a second guard faints at the Queen’s birthday celebrations in London.
Among them was Britain’s Got Talent victor and Household Cavalry bandsman Richard Jones whose skill as a magician saw him triumph in the popular show. They kicked off on Friday with a Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Britain’s Queen always has two birthdays, the official one on the second Saturday of June and her real birthday, which falls on April 21 as part of a tradition dating back almost 250 years to try to ensure good, sunny weather for the monarch’s official celebrations.
The Queen turns to smile at the crowds during a ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria.
Up until the 1980s, the Queen even rode in the parade on horseback. He performed magic tricks for his captors but used their food so he could supplement his meagre diet. The Queen first watched the ceremony from a balcony at the age of 8, when her grandfather George V was the king, and she has taken part in it every year since her own reign began in 1952.
“Think of all the rehearsing and the square bashing”.
Later, the royal couple was expected to make an appearance on the balcony of the palace, to wave to the crowd as Royal Air Force jets and some vintage World War II planes fly overhead.
On the Thames there was a maritime tribute to the Queen with a small flotilla of vessels – led by the Gloriana – which had five-time Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave on board.
Charlotte’s big brother George and dad Prince William were also able to enjoy the sky-show ahead of Sunday’s giant street party on the Mall for the Queen – the final event of three days of official birthday celebrations.
He celebrated his 95th birthday on June 10.
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“There will be lots of colour, lots of noise, lots of movement and it’s going to be hopefully a fantastic day”.
